The OGT: Should students who fail be allowed to walk at graduation?
June means graduation for high school students all over.
But there are a lot of local seniors who won't be walking across the stage to get their diplomas.
Over 9,000 high school seniors did not pass their Ohio Graduation Test. Passing the OGT is now a state requirement.
Should these seniors be allowed to walk the stage with their peers at graduation? Or is the state taking appropriate action by making the students sit out?
But there are a lot of local seniors who won't be walking across the stage to get their diplomas.
Over 9,000 high school seniors did not pass their Ohio Graduation Test. Passing the OGT is now a state requirement.
Should these seniors be allowed to walk the stage with their peers at graduation? Or is the state taking appropriate action by making the students sit out?
posted by Mo at
5:20 AM
19 Comments:
I think the OGT is a waste of time. If you pass your classes, you should graduate. Your 13 years in school, and the accomplishments you made during those 13 years should determine whether or not you graduate.
OGT is junk - The State of Ohio needs to mind it's own business. I'm sick and tired of all the new rules, and laws. Our children are going to grow up broke. Mostly from paying outrages taxes, fines from smoking and other idiot Ohio laws, being sued from money hungry idiots, etc. This country and state are going right down the tube. The end of our freedom is near. I look forward to another civil war to happen, we the people against the corporate blood sucking government. Wake up people.
It is actually a good thing for students to realize now before going out into the real world that you don't always get what you want. There is major competition out there and you have to work for it and then prove it. So many adults know that even 10, 20, or 30 years of work doesn't guarantee anything no matter how great a job you did.
Come on!!! Why should you let a student who couldn't pass the test do a "pretend" walk at a graduation ceremony? Why celebrate something you did not earn? The OGT raises the bar, and it is necessary. Sorry for those who couldn't make the cut, but what a silly photo op...."Here's Johnny pretending to get his HS Diploma! That was a great day!"
My daughter's opinion is, that the test is so easy, if the students have not pass it even after multiple tries, you should not be able to graduate. (she had only one chance to pass)
Ohio has enough uneducated people. Make them repeat the grade, maybe they'll take it more seriously. They're obviously under educated kids that need more schooling. They should be less worried about a one day event and more concerned about their future.
It is more than just the students who have failed to achieve. I have come across teachers without the proper skill sets to anything to anyone. This problem has many causes and all everyone wants to do is blame the student for being stupid and/or lazy. Students should want to succeed and learn and graduate when they are supposed with their classmates. Teachers are supposed to teach properly and make sure that the student and parents are aware if that student should need more help. Parents should make sure their child goes to school, behaves, does their homework, and get/give them the extra help if they need it. The only result I can see from this 'OGT' situation: more teenage/adults without a diploma. What makes you think that all of these kids will do what they need to in order to get their diploma? I say few to none. Good job Ohio...for yet finding another way to force failure on people and chase them off to other states. I see my taxes going up now to support more unemployed people and/or make up for all those who ran for the border...
Our education is such a mess and here is another shining example.
This test is not worth the time it takes for schools to administor it. My son is in 8th grade and passes these test with above average everytime and yet he gets F's on his report card. Why? Because he now feels that it doesn't matter if he does the classwork and homework as long as he passes this. They are teaching him to be lazy. I tell him everyday good luck in the real world, because this would never fly.
What about those kids who have worked hard to get good grades and then get screwed because they are not good at taking test. Some kids just don't do well under the pressure of these test. Was that considered when creating this test?
Also, thanks to this test I have talked to teachers who no longer have the materials available to them to teach their children. They are given a book and then told to teach the kids what is on the test but that does not coinside with the book. I am tired of trying to help my son with work when we have a copy of a paper and no book to look at for examples.
This test is easy for some because they naturally do well on test, but others don't. This is not a good judge of weather a child has learned what he needs to or not. Teachers, parents, and report cards are.
I may not agree with the OGT but the students have known for years that this is a graduation requirement. How many tutoring sessions did they attend? How many days did they cut school? Each student has numerous opportunities for extra help yet they don't take advantage of them. Not walking across the stage should not be a surprise.
Its not like these kids only had one chance to pass the test. They knew they needed to pass it to graduate and had several chances. If they didnt take the time to prepare for the test and pass it, then they shouldnt graduate. No walking across the stage, nada. You dont earn it, you dont get it. These kids are all living Entitlement Lala Land these days and its about time they were held accountable for something.
Let the students that have a qualifying grade point average walk. If the student would have failed their senior year they probably should not walk.
Which brings up the question. If a student passes the OGT in the 9th grade why can't that student graduate and move on to college? Perhaps because the school system (dependent on money brought in by taxes and the fed)tells us that the student is not ready for college. If the test is the decider why does that student need to waste his or her time with a bunch of electives that they can take in college? Perhaps more classes in how to get a job, how to prepare for college, how to maintain your finances and a focus on the professions that are actually hiring people would be of more help to the average student but these are not what your son or daughter are taking.
Come on...they have three years and numerous tries to pass this test! Of course they should not be allowed to "walk" in the graduation ceremony. I'm pretty sure these are the same kids working at fast food restaurants; unable to make correct change (even when the amount is shown on the screen). It's about time something is done about it.
OGT testing is a waste of time. An intelligent person who does not take tests well is prohibited from graduation. However, I personally know of a "mentally disabled" person who graduated and he cannot even read. The system got rid of him and got him out of special education classes.
The comments about students not being smart enough to pass this test are interesting. Maybe we need to have a lottery and pick a random set of adults who are in the work force and high school graduates to take this test and see how we would do. It is very easy to be critical of these students when you haven't been there.
I don't understand why the students were unable to pass the test given the fact that they had 3 years and multiple opportunities to pass the OGT. Where were the parents? Why didn't they encourage and prepare their children? My son, who is an average student passed the OGT on the first try because we encouraged and prepared him for the test. I think its funny that the inner city (Akron, Cleveland) schools have a high failure rate compaired to their suburban counterparts, and yet they recive the most state aid. Instead of funneling money to the poor performing schools, give the students the opportunity to attend charter or parochial schools were the money will be better spent.
After reading some of the responses on this board it saddens me to see how little some are informed. The test is junk. It is merely a bandaid to the real problem that addresses education across this nation...educational funding. Those that sit in Columbus or more so our nations capitol sit in their ivory tower and make the laws. It is the districts responsibility to follow the rules and laws that they create. NCLB states all teachers MUST be quality teachers therefore all student WILL be quality learners. Okay...with that said lets give a student with an active IEP that reads at a 1st grade level but is in the 4th a 4th grade Ohio Achievement Test. That's like saying your a bus driver but we want you to write a thesis on stem cell research in order to get paid and provide for your family. The teachers are being challenged more than ever because their schools test results are brought down because of the example stated above. More and more children with learning disabilites are entering the typical classroom, as they should, and be taught equally. BUT those are the children that will have grave difficulties passing the OGT (Ohio Grads Test) not the students that have taken college prep classes, honors classes.These students are challenged just by coming to school and what do we do? Instead of encouraging them to finish the courses to gain the credits to graduate, tell them it doesn't matter...you don't matter...your best effort does not make you worthy of 13 years of effort?
Educational funding stinks, OGT and OAT stink and because of these test...who are we really testing? Let me tell you...it is the educators...but who suffers? the students who are only learning the test at best and not being able to apply basic educational skills and have firm educational foundations. The ONLY thing our kids will be walking away with are memorized equations and not the foggiest idea why they learned it or how on earth to apply it in their lives.
The answer to the question is YES, if a student has enough credits to graduate according to state law, they darn well should participate in graduation.
And for those of you that have children that have passed the test with little to no stress about it...consider yourself blessed. I work daily with students that get sick from the pressure because they are not your typical average student. There is not enough tutoring, parent support or a gifted and dedicated teacher out there that will change their born ability to pass this test. But I'll tell you what I have learned more from them than I have ever learned in any school, college or life experience.....they have heart and even pride in their accomplishments, as small as some may be.
I currently have a daughter who will take this test in the upcoming school year. She is moving to the 10th grade. She told me that the OGT test is rediculous in 9th grade they get a look at it before they move to the High School she explained to me that half the stuff is mutiple choice so that is easy. But to walk or not walk at Graduation that is the question? What about the students who have learning disabilities they get assistance I also have a child with a learning disability I asked her grade school teacher will she graduate in 8 years especially with an IEP (Indiviual Eduacation Progam) She will graduate even if she don't pass the OGT just because she has a disability problem.
I teach high school and this test is a joke. We have stopped educating and started teaching to the test. My students pass the test but they are not prepared for college or any kind of intellectual thought. We only have time to teach the standards that are on the test, so a lot of times they don't get the background or details they really need to truly understand an issue. I have had high school students in tears before the test because they are so afraid. Plus, a lot of schools "encourage" at-risk students to drop out before they have to take the test so that they don't drop the overall school score. Teaching is my passion but I don't see myself staying much longer in the profession. NCLB is a great concept but in practice has cheated more children out of a quality education that it has helped.
Yes, My son is a senior this year and he did not pass his Math OGT test. He does not get to graduate. I don't feel this is right. He's has passed all his classes and He's never been retained he whole 13 yrs of school (K-12). I think this OGT test is rediculous and I hope they do away with it. I feel bad for kids today. I feel if they passed all their classes and have all the credits they need to Graduate then they should Walk Across That Stage and be proud that they made it and get their Diploma.
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