Char-Meck Lowers Graduation Standards

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have lowered graduation standards.

Digest that for a minute. Soothe it around the edge of your tongue and teeth, let it sink in for a minute or two, like a fine wine or an aged piece of cheddar. Rinse and repeat...

...Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have lowered graduation standards.

On a day that we're reeling over this study that says that American students are slowly improving in math over their Asian counterparts and despite the plentiful work that still needs to be done, the state's largest school system lowers its standards.

This is maddening.

Charlotte Observer:

Students will need only 24 credits to graduate from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, starting with next year's freshmen.

The school board voted 5-2 tonight to cut the requirement from 28 credits, with Kaye McGarry and Larry Gauvreau opposing the change. James Ross, just appointed to the District 3 seat, abstained.

Requirements for math, science, English, social studies and physical education won't change, but students will be able to take four fewer electives. Students who pass a full course load will still have 32 credits at the end of four years. Officials have pitched the change as giving students the chance to pursue study abroad, internships and other options their senior year.

Some board members said they aren't happy about eliminating the foreign-language requirement; they said counselors will have to make sure students understand they'll need a foreign language to get into most four-year colleges.

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...or maybe it frees up more time for teachers to do test prep. After all, it's all about the high-stakes EOCs, right???

What are we doing? We're failing our children right in front of us, and we're bending right on over and just taking it. Does anyone even care anymore?

A story like this should be plastered all over the Observer, all over the News & Record, and any other state paper that gives a damn about what happens in our schools. This story is buried. In fact, I found out about it through Greensboro's own Ed Cone, who blogged about it not long ago. And Cone got it through Charlotte blogger Robert Reddick. Mr Reddick also has a link to an excellent speech by Microsoft chief Bill Gates, who delivered a recent policy speech at a forum on education in America in Washington.

Once again, the blogosphere has the pulse on the news of the day.

And you know what will happen, right? Once Char-Meck makes a move, others in the state will follow. Can we predict that Wake County Schools, Guilford County Schools, and others will be far behind in making the same move to relax graduation standards? I think we can predict this.

Wow...

E.C. :)