It's kind of like giving every player on the team a trophy just for showing up.
Unlike other states, Ohio has adopted a less rigorous standard for its students. Apparently, too many of them were not qualifying as "proficient," so what do we do? We change what we label as "proficient."
It's brilliant, really. No need to look at how we teach or why our grown children can't count out change without the help of a cash register. Or, as a friend, discovered, why they don't know that England is part of the United Kingdom. (He was trying to ascertain if his phone would work in England. After being told that England was not on the list of countries, he had to tell them to try looking under United Kingdom.)
No, we'll just say that what used to pass for failure is now success. That's how we roll. It's not about the education, it's about the testing.
You may point out that I'm not a teacher, and I don't know my ass from my elbow about modern education. What I do know is, the best teachers I've had showed me how to take the material they were teaching and apply it to everyday life -- which didn't include test-passing.
Just to end on an up-note, Mr. Ginley read about Ohio State University's football team, where they conduct "Real Life Wednesdays." Student athletes are taught practical things such as how to write a resume, balance a checkbook and other basics of personal finance. Like what FICA means on a pay stub.
Of course, you'd have to pass the college entrance exam first.
Ah, there's the rub.
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