- Not much to say today in presenting these pieces. All are attempting to outline what is best for high school students from the perspective of folks in charge of doing just that. School leaders, politicians, business titans, and others. First up, the elected board of Toledo City Schools passed a resolution this week urging the legislature to extend softened graduation requirements for the Classes of 2019 and 2020 at least. A.K.A. The “right thing”, as they put it. (Toledo Blade, 12/5/18)
- Next up, business leaders in the Miami Valley say they are having trouble finding qualified workers to fill urgent needs. Their solution is to reach out to students and emphasize the need for soft skills such as “leadership, teamwork, communication, problem solving, work ethic, flexibility and adaptability, and interpersonal skills”. No test-taking ability is required, it seems, but there is also no discussion of ability to read and do math at a high school level either. You know: what those tests generally measure. (Dayton Daily News, 12/5/18)
- Hatred of tests is on full display here, as the leaders of Wickliffe City Schools in Northeast Ohio tell us bluntly. These guys have a new plan to get their students “future ready” without relying on the pesky tests. It is not, in my estimation, as unique or as foolproof as supe wants us to believe. But far be it from me to ruin a perfectly formed-fantasy. (Willoughby News Herald, 12/2/18)
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