Michael Naughton: Questions on Question 2

Reading about Question 2 about the MCAS, I am wondering what the big deal is. Both sides agree that the graduation requirement only disqualifies about 1% of students, and both agree that the MCAS will still be given and will still be used to evaluate both schools and students. So what, exactly, will be gained if this question passes?

Proponents say that standardized tests are not a good measure of performance, and some kids just aren’t good at taking them, and they really just measure socioeconomic status. I agree, but those seem like reasons to scrap the MCAS entirely, not just drop it as a graduation requirement.

Opponents say that scrapping the MCAS without putting anything in its place would make it harder to tell which schools are doing a good job of educating kids and which ones aren’t. I agree. Trusting schools to evaluate themselves strikes me as naïve. If a high school diploma means something, then there should be a way to confirm that those receiving it have done what was necessary to deserve it. If passing the MCAS isn’t the answer, then something better should be found.

Question 2 offers nothing. Educators themselves are divided on this question; some support it and others don’t. Asking the public to make the call seems like a cop-out. What do we know that they don’t? How about asking educators to model constructive problem-solving and work together to propose something that works better? Wouldn’t that be a great lesson for everyone?

Michael Naughton

Millers Falls