Graduation Tests

* Re “Education Reform: Diploma Should Mean Something,” editorial, Nov. 14: Testing at the time of graduation is an unacceptable solution for ensuring that high school graduates will have minimum skills. Education reform must change the situation, not define it further.

Our education system seems to emphasize performance over learning. Learning does not happen by memorizing, on the previous night, facts to be regurgitated on an exam the next day. Instead of learning, students give the illusion of learning. An assessment test necessary to graduate will only change a student’s preparation to perform, not his or her educational foundation.

The apathy of students who do no more than necessary to scrape by frightens me the most. What employer wants to hire this work ethic? Education is failing to communicate its value to students. It can’t be heard over the noisy, entertaining world of mediocrity out there, full of triviality, violence and dysfunction.

Before handing out another assessment test, let’s give the teachers the resources to turn up the volume and take back the attention of the students. Then maybe those tests will actually have something to assess.

GINGER L. MILLER

Chatsworth