I am writing in response your Sept. 17 editorial opinion regarding the drop in 10th-grade test scores on the WASL (“WASL must be taken seriously by all students”). I was taken back by your knee-jerk reaction. I read that the students must take WASL test scores more seriously, perhaps putting pressure on universities and employers to consider the WASL test scores for admission or employment as an incentive to motivate students.
I am not an educator and perhaps not qualified to have an opinion. As I read your view some things ran through my mind.
Maybe the 10th-graders are not the issue. You state “.. largely because they didn’t seem to care.” Maybe the validity and relevancy of the WASL test is the issue. Perhaps the state should back off and not micro-manage the gifted teachers we have. Some decisions are better made at lower levels, in this case our teachers are the “worker bees.” I thought maybe, just maybe, there may be too much emphasis on WASL.
A well-meaning directive, order or even law is often ignored simply because it is not relevant to reality. I am of the opinion that your “wake-up call” should be directed at WASL, not our students.
Everett
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