(This post was submitted by a reader and is published here in its entirety.)
TCHS Playing Catch-Up?
I recently read some of the test scores from many of the high schools in the area, including Tattnall, Long, Toombs, and Appling Counties. I was surprised to see that Long County students out scored Tattnall County students in required state mandated tests in EVERY category. When I was growing up and still in school, it was considered a travisty to go to school in Long County because we all knew that you didn't get a good education in Ludowici. Things have apparently changed. I also read that the Long County school board is considering school uniforms. This is something that has been tossed around and may have already died at a recent meeting but just the idea of it is progressive, forward thinking on the Long County board's part.
Tattnall needs to get their scores up and take some notes from, dare I say it, Long County.
(This post was submitted by a reader and is published here in its entirety.)
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
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4 comments:
Just a note about the test scores in defense of the schools . . . I don't know where you got your test score information but Tattnall County was one of only 52 school systems in the state to make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). AYP is determined mainly by test scores so it is evident that the majority of students in our schools are passing the tests! Otherwise, we wouldn't have gotten the AYP designation. Long County, too, was recognized for having met AYP system-wide this past year. I would say though that the fact that Tattnall made it is even more of a tribute to our system since we have seven public schools, whereas Long only has three.
Thanks to everyone at the Journal that worked to get the online edition up and running, including the functional blog! I don't get to come home very often, but its nice to still be connected somehow.
How would you suggest that we bring up scores when attendance is not mandatory. As at teacher at TCHS, it is difficult to do much of anything because way too many student miss way too many days at school.
The State of Georgia says that you cannot fail a student because of missed days alone. Here at TCHS, we give a comprehensive exam to attempt to remedy this problem. However, students have figured out that they can get Hospital Homebound for just about anything (colds, "sick" parents, and even ADHD).
Additionally, education is not seen as important in the community at large. Education is seen as punishment for many students, rather than an opportunity. Students fail to understand that education (especially higher education in the prime fields) is quickly becoming one of the only competitive advantages that American has. Combine that with a lax discipline policy, you get low test scores.
I for one can certainly agree with the previous comment. We are, as a society, not charging our youth to want to seek an education. Too often we show the youth of our nation that one can do anything they want in life. Yeah, got it, only how many of us stress that to have something in life one must work for it.
Sure, you can be a doctor, lawyer, school teacher and even the president... But you cannot accomplish any of this sitting at home doing nothing. Education, drive, and dreams are the keys to success. Life is bigger than our immediate surroundings none of the great early explorers would have ever been great had they not taken the road less traveled.
It is on us to demand, charge, and expect our youth to want to succeed. Sugar-coating and appeasement will get us nowhere. We stray from making them accept responsibility in fear they will rebel, we appease lax and disrespectful attitudes because we don't want their suppress individuality.
Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm just upset by it all, but I think that we need to do more...
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