SirStefan32

F Is For Valedictorian

Sunday, August 17, 2003
By Joanne Jacobs

Bridget Green was all set to be valedictorian of her New Orleans high school, but she didn't even go to the graduation ceremony. Despite her A in Algebra II, Green failed the math portion of the graduation exam, which measures 10th grade level skills. It was her fifth try.

Green's difficulties with the graduation exam were no fluke. Her ACT score of 11 was lower than 99 percent of students who took the college admissions test.

The Times-Picayune story is heart-breaking. Green was willing to learn, but her teachers didn't tell her that she needed to improve.

Studious, athletic and outgoing, teachers and peers said Green is an ideal student. In her three years at Fortier, she balanced a college-prep class schedule with competing on Fortier's basketball and track teams. Her transcript, which is full of A's and B's, shows she earned top marks in biology, geography, history, creative writing and Spanish.

They were giving her As for being a good kid. But they weren't teaching her.

To sharpen her math skills and improve her chances of passing the exam, Green asked school officials to let her skip a physical education class and take an additional math course during her senior year. But she said the school's counselor wouldn't let her make the switch.

...(Principal Harvey) Cyrus said Green's experience does not suggest the school is doing anything wrong.

"I feel my teachers did everything they could do," Cyrus said. "Sometimes students just don't ask for help."

And sometimes a student asks for help, and doesn't get it.

The principal blames the test. He has no worries about the students who got lower grades than Bridget Green, claiming, “most of our children are ready to go on to college."

Green plans to keep retaking the test till she passes. Then she'll enroll in community college. Based on her high school grades, she's confident she can succeed. She wants to major in elementary education.


Kid blames the teacher, principal blames the test... I hate the blame game. How long is it going to take antill somebody accepts some responsibility?

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