Everyone, who received a rigorous education in the basics (the three R’s), knows that today, the schools fail at inculcating a desire to learn. Since self-esteem is paramount, failing isn’t an option. Florida put a lock on success this way:

Passing score lowered

for FCAT Writing exam

Emergency meeting called over drastic drop in FCAT scores

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -The Board of Education decided in an emergency meeting Tuesday to lower the passing grade on the writing portion of Florida’s standardized test after preliminary results showed a drastic drop in student passing scores.

The results indicated only about a third of students would pass this year’s tougher Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test exam, compared with a passing rate of 80 percent or more last year.

“They’ve asked students to do more, but that’s pretty dramatic,” said Florida Education Association spokesman Mark Pudlow. “We need to examine what led to this, not just paper over the problem.” [snip]

Results on the FCAT are the major factor for determining grades the state uses to reward top schools and sanction those at the bottom of the spectrum.

This is the first year students and schools will be assessed on the basis of tougher tests and scoring systems, expecting to result in more students failing the FCAT and lower school grades.

The board, though, agreed at its regular meeting last week not to let any school drop more than one letter grade this year to help them adjust to the rigorous new standards. [snip]

This move certainly solves the problem, just give every kid a report card with butterflies and unicorns for grades.

The lower passing score is expected to increase the number of students passing the exam to 48 percent for fourth grade, 52 percent for eighth grade and 60 percent for 10th grade, still well below last year’s results. [snip]

Dust the chalk off your sleeves, certitude achieved.

Officials in some school districts have been preparing parents for bad FCAT news by sending letters home with students explaining that the tests have become more difficult to pass.

Other officials are pushing back.

School boards in Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties have passed a resolution against what they say is an over-reliance on high-stakes testing. Board members say the exams reduce time devoted to teaching and put unhealthy stress on students. [snip]

Ahhh, no stress, that’s life on the ‘Gummint Cheese’. The lotus eaters encounter only one hiccup; that is, that life is nothing less than a fountain of stress.

Then you get old and die!

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