ARTICLE: ACT College Test Scores Reflect Failings, Wall Street Journal, Vol. CCLIV, No. 42, Wednesday, 19 August 2009, p. A3

Observers said the report is likely to intensify calls for Congress to stree high-school improvement when it debates reauthorization of the federal No Child Left Behind law, perhaps as early as this year. Passed in 2001, the law’s primary emphasis so far has been on boosting achievement in the lower grades.

I can only hope so. My observations are that many high schools are simply not doing their jobs. I continue to deal with some students who are incapable of writing the simplest of paragraphs and their critical thinking skills are non-existent. I also deal with many students who are accomplished at writing and have very keen minds, so, I know it can be done.

According to the article, only 28 percent of students are ready for college biology. Only 42 percent are ready for college algebra and I’m one who thinks college algebra should not even be taught in college. After all, is algebra not a high school subject? Other numbers reported: 67 percent are ready for English (really?), 53 percent for reading, and overall, 23 percent are ready for college.

Bottom line is that teachers need to do their jobs and part of that job is to actually fail those students who do not achieve the requisite skills. Instead of worrying about Johnny’s self-esteem let’s worry about his ability to function in a demanding, highly technical, global economy. If we can do that I suspect the self-esteem thing will take care of itself.