This morning as I read through online newspapers around my state, I cam across this article detailing how one school has created a small block of time to help students pass classes with a special emphasis on freshmen. While I applaud the efforts, I wonder why so much pressure is placed on the high school to “get kids through” as my ...

Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals (Ocho Cinco to his friends) on the ESPN show Pardon the Interruption said he could beat Michael Phelps in a swimming match. Johnson mentioned that many inner-city youths do not receive the opportunities to escape their neighborhoods to show off their talents (very true), and he followed this statement by ...

Since the 1970s some aspects of students and their lives are relatively unchanged according to a study by the Foundation for Child Development. Reading abilities, graduation rates, and suicide rates have basically remained the same for teenagers since the 1970s. Also, math rates have risen despite the bad press math and science teachers ...

Recently, numerous articles (here and here and here) have explained or editorialized about the Washington State Board of Education’s likely approval of a proposal to require students to complete 24 credits to graduate instead of the current 19. Since the state only funds 20 of those credits now, more money will need to be provided. [...]

A new requirement in California forces every 8th grader to enroll in Algebra and take a proficiency exam. This will be the first time students must take an upper-level math test prior to entering high school. The hope is that “the new policy will push school districts to ensure that eighth-graders are ready for the demands [...]

Last night was my school’s commencement ceremony, and it was truly one of the best I’ve attended. The speakers were excellent, the exchange students honored, the 7 valedictorians presented, and the graduates excited but under control. The kids tossed beach balls around every once in a while, and they cheered for their friends and waved ...

Washington State’s mandatory test, which needs to be passed to receive a diploma, is called the WASL. Recent articles have noted the recent announcement that 91% of the students passed—if you do not count the students who dropped out. By my figuring, this means about 68% of the original class of 2008 passed the state test. [...]

I felt quite honored today to have a few students request that I hand them their diplomas during graduation next week. They are so cute when they ask. Their faces blush a bit; they smile while looking away, and then they ask if I’m going to the ceremony. And finally, they meekly ask if I [...]

We have two more weeks of school, and I only have two senior students in danger of failing one of my classes. If I can persuade this dynamic duo to attend class, I can get the work out of them, but the key is their attendance. I’m confident they’ll be here. Originally, I had 11 [...]

A school district policy has resulted in a disappointment for a young lady who managed to complete high school in three years and thought she would be the 2008 class valedictorian.  However, district policy  states that "The valedictorian shall be the eligible student with the highest weighted grade-point average for four years of ...