4Higher
standards:
Why we need them and what they look like Parent Spot for Parents of High School Students
The buzzwords in schools across the
nation are "higher learning standards." Who wouldn’t agree with
that idea? As professionals, business owners, workers and parents,
we all want today’s students to be prepared for what awaits them
after graduation. We all see the value of matching school
standards to the demands of today’s world.
But what happens when it is your son who
works hard in Global History, yet scores a failing 62 on the
Regents exam? What happens when it is your daughter who is putting
in many hours and still not keeping up in English? What happens
when it is your teenager who needs an extra year to pass the tests
and graduate?
In moments when you wonder why your son
or daughter must struggle in ways you never did, remember this is
not high school as you experienced it, nor will it be the job
market you faced upon graduation.
Our children’s future
High school is not a job training ground, but it is where basic
skills and bodies of knowledge create a solid foundation for
future growth.
"Basic" is a deceptive word, however. In the world today’s
children are entering, understanding computer languages, foreign
languages and high-level mathematics is considered "basic." The
ability to synthesize current events, scientific data and the
written word is fundamental. Problem solvers, independent
thinkers, people who possess an understanding of the physical and
social world around them...these are the qualities that define the
ideal citizens of the 21st Century.
Jobs that require college degrees and
professional certificates consume an ever-growing portion of the
market. Opportunities for less-educated workers are mainly in the
service industry, where it takes at least two full-time jobs to
equal the pay of one professional position.
Educators who shaped New York State’s
learning standards knew all this when they pushed forward and
instituted higher graduation requirements for all students.
Higher standards in the classroom
Today’s learning standards are divided into two groups: content
and performance standards. The first tells us what students should
know, understand, and be able to do. The latter sets acceptable
levels of achievement.
In practice, these standards mean much
higher levels of participation and persistence than ever before.
When you were in school, you probably remember using primarily two
sources of information: the teacher and the textbook. By contrast,
today’s students are turning to the Internet, personal interviews,
newspaper articles, broadcast events, technical manuals,
professional journals, public documents, and more.
In social studies, they might read the
original Declaration of Independence from the 1700s along with the
Magna Carta from the 1200s and make comparisons between the
histories of separate continents and separate centuries. They’re
drawing conclusions about the significance of prior events to
predict future trends. They’re accomplishing this independently or
in cooperative groups without the crutch of a publisher’s textbook
summary. In other words, they are thinking for themselves rather
than relying on others to do it for them.
Not only have classroom expectations
changed, so too have the means to measure student performance.
Whereas high school grades were once based almost exclusively on
test scores and papers, students today may be required to design a
database or spreadsheet, provide a live demonstration of their
skills, or submit elaborate projects complete with charts, graphs,
and artistic renderings.
Across the subject areas - math, science,
English/language arts, social studies, the arts, foreign languages
and physical education - students are being asked to analyze and
interpret information electronically, on paper and in practical
situations. They’re participating in, and showing mastery of,
experiences that were never imagined in schools 20 years ago.
What can I do?
So what can parents do to help their sons
and daughters succeed in this world of higher learning standards?
Of course, students should establish a good record of school
attendance and healthy patterns of eating, sleeping and
socializing, but there are other steps you and your teen can take
together.
Become familiar with New York State’s
learning standards.
