Diplomas little more than certificate of attendance

[j]

Another article to open the eyes of Taxpayers. If you think your getting your moneys worth in regards to taxation and schooling..read on.

......Moving on.no matter who is right, yet another study provides evidence that the education that the majority of students are getting leaves a lot to be desired.

The American Diploma Project released a report yesterday concluding, "While students and their parents may still believe that the diploma reflects adequate preparation for the intellectual demands of college or work, employers and postsecondary institutions know that it often serves as little more than a certificate of attendance."


The report "Ready or Not: Creating a High School Diploma that Counts," is the product of former top education officials from both the Reagan and Clinton administrations.

Among their findings:

· "More than 60 percent of employers rate graduates' skills in grammar, spelling, writing and basic math as only 'fair' or 'poor.'

· "Most high school exit exams don't measure what matters to colleges and employers. Nearly half the states require students to pass exit exams to graduate, but these exams generally assess eighth or ninth-grade content."

· "Most U.S. high school graduates need remedial help in college. Transcripts show that during their college careers, 53 percent of students take at least one remedial English or math class."

· Most high school graduates who go to college never get a degree, and significantly fewer blacks and Hispanics than whites attain four-year college degrees.


The report does not address the price we pay for this education and draw any conclusions about whether the taxpayer is getting his money's worth, but I will.


As of today, according to Governor Sanford's budget, taxpayers spend $8,168 per year to educate each K-12 student in South Carolina. Even if that cost doesn't increase a dime (a unimaginable fantasy), we're going to pay more than $106,000 to educate today's Kindergarten student. With predictable increase, the real cost will more likely top $200,000, and the chances are better than not that he won't be able to read an application for employment or make change at a cash register when we're finished.

It is hard to fathom a bigger waste of money.

(Courtesy of Daily Dispatch - Ralph Bristow)

[blizzard]

Like I've said before, this "No child left behind" crap is for the birds. It's just raping us of our hard earned dollars.

[Guest]

And its not the teacher's who are getting rich - they are one of the lowest paid professions around....

I agree with you too blizzard..

[blizzard]

And its not the teacher's who are getting rich - they are one of the lowest paid professions around....

I agree with you too blizzard..

You're right, if there is anybody getting rich, its the administrators. Those who have minimal contact with the students.

[streetsoldier]

That's one of the BIG problems with Sikeston Schools...1/3 of the staff is "administrative".

"Can" most of those, hire better teachers and refund nascent programs (arts, music), and "what a difference"...without having to shell out one cent more than at present in taxes.