Spunky Homeschool

Reverse Accountability

Feb. 23, 2006 at 5:13 PM

Homeschooling

When I entered college, I was surrounded by the top students from most high schools across our state and nation. Yet, many of them didn't make it to graduation. There were a variety of reasons. Some dropped out for financial reasons, some couldn't handle the academic demands and switched to "easier" colleges, and a few decided to get married. So, if a college student does poorly or drops out whose fault is it? A new Texas a proposal would make the high school accountable for its graduates college performance.
The state already tracks student performance from pre-kindergarten through college. The next step would mean students who need remediation in college could hurt their high school's ranking under the state's accountability system.
According to a DeEtta Culbertson, a Texas Education Agency spokewoman "
It's part of the overall package to improve education and increase college-readiness standards,"
Texas is at the forefront in education reform. The U.S. Department of Education is looking at higher education and accountability standards across the nation. They are holding up Texas as the model for their reforms. They are trying to get the most out of their "investments" in education. I wrote about this in my post The New 'C' in NCLB. This will result in exit exams not just after high school but after college as well.

The reforms continue to look more and more like another step in the government's attempt to impose increasing control over higher education. TexasNextStep is working to make K-14 the norm, with the state footing the bill. The next step would be to make atleast two years of college compulsory. Said Texas Comptroller Strayhorn,
[I] would rather spend $2,500 a year educating a young Texan, than $16,000 a year incarcerating that young Texan!
We are steadily moving toward a K-16 education tracking system in this country.

They have already messed up K-12 so why does anyone think that their involvement at the college level will yield any better results? Why are we trusting them to fix a crisis they, in fact, created? I just don't get it.

4 Comments and Trackbacks

posted by gottsegnet on Feb. 23, 2006 at 11:26 PM

Where did he get his dollar figures from? 2,500 a yr for public school? That's the LOWEST figure I have ever heard...TX is frustrating...and due to the way textbooks are selected, TX and CA influence every classroom in America. Half of America's textbooks are aligned with the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). I am so happy to not have to jot all those little numbers and letters to identify my TEKS in my lesson plans...I know all this stuff with accountability is popular with parents, and in theory it is a good idea. But people need to really realize what it does to teaching. Goodness, there are districts in CA that have scripted lessons...who needs any education to teach? You aren't allowed to leave the script! There are a LOT of postives to what Bush did with education in TX, but there are some undeniable drawbacks that overshadow a lot of the benefits.

The problem is summed up in that article I believe you linked to where the parent wants the school to enforce dress codes because she does not like what her daughter is wearing. When parent's forfeit their responsibilities, someone has to take over...and it is the state. Unfortunately, I do not believe the state is imposing itself on helpless, powerless citizens...it is filling a vacuum.

It's the same with gun control laws...there was a time when everyone owned a gun and no one registered or waited seven days for one. Young men...12 and 13 would carry their guns with them to do chores. But today? Yikes. I can't imagine it.

Way back when Samuel was a prophet, the people cried out for a king. God told them what would happen and they did not care. They wanted someone to fight their battles for them...security over liberty. And that is the choice we are making as a society today...and God will answer the yearnings of our heart and give us a "king."

posted by HomeschoolNovice on Feb. 24, 2006 at 12:23 AM

Great post...nothing else in particular to add...I think you expressed it quite well!

I'll be sure to check back in soon!

~Jenn~

posted by OreoSouza on Feb. 24, 2006 at 2:01 AM

Yikes!!

posted by jacobsacademy on Feb. 24, 2006 at 8:35 AM

.......you must be joking...........[hypothetically speaking] my high school is going to be held accountable because I [she who worked to put herself through 3 and a half years of college] CHOSE to leave college and return to my home town, work, and pursue my life [post high school] without graduating from that institution.......
(and I can only imagine the psycho babble spin they would put on a new proposed system that would have "motivated me" to stay and graduate.....)

........does anyone realize what kind of squeaky wheel is going to be created?? and as a result, you know where this is going and ultimately lead.........they'll want more "extended" educational tax dollars and create the required k-16 - so they can keep them longer and better indoctrinate them..............

good grief, Charlie Brown..........

Harriette

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