Nearly 50,000 California high school seniors may not graduate this spring after the state Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the state’s high school exit exam.

The test, which had been required for graduation, tests seniors in English (10th grade level) and Math (8th grade level), amazingly, or perhaps, not so amazing, 47,000 high school seniors failed the test and now are at risk of not “graduating.” Some of these seniors, whose academic ability is eclipsed by that of middle school aged children, sued arguing the test was discriminatory to minorities and low-income students. Apparently if you come from a low-income family, numbers add up a little differently (maybe that’s the problem).

As the state’s superintendent, Jack O'Connell, argued the test was necessary to "further society's interest in ensuring that students demonstrate minimal academic proficiency in order to receive a high school diploma." O’Connell’s position is wholly justified, how can a school system legitimately claim that a student qualifies for graduation when they lack the academic abilities of an 8th grader? The student failures who sued, argued they should not be held accountable for their failures, blaming their short comings and poor work ethic on the school system.

In reality the students (and their parents) are completely to blame for their shameful failures. Perhaps if they had taken a keener interest in their studies, then perhaps their fortunes would be far different. If public schools are to have any measure of reliability, society must not expect schools to consistently lower standards to placate the lazy, the incompetent and the unmotivated, which is exactly why parents should opt for a private school that refuses to compromise on academic standards, one that also demands greater parental involvement. These entitlement minded students will either have to study hard and achieve or prepare for a life of mediocrity…
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-05-24-california-exams_x.htm