Audio clip
Rhonda Thurman
New standards for Tennessee high school students, including a requirement for a math credit every year until graduation, could lead to more dropouts in Hamilton County, school board member Rhonda Thurman said Monday.
NEW REQUIREMENTS
Starting this fall, Tennessee high school students must complete:
* 4 English credits
* 4 math credits
* 3 science credits
* 3 social studies credits
* 1.5 health and physical education credits
* 6 foreign language, art and elective credits
Source: Tennessee Board of Education
“If students cannot pass algebra, just think how well they will do with calculus and trigonometry,” she told members of the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club.
The four-year math requirement seems to be aimed at preparing students to go to college, she said.
“We’re now adding another course of math,” Ms. Thurman said. “Some people think that’s a good thing, but I don’t because not everybody needs to go to college.”
School board Chairman Kenny Smith said students need to gain math skills necessary to find good jobs, but said the courses can’t be so difficult that they drive students away.
“There needs to be a balance,” he said.
Mr. Smith said school officials may need to give students extra help or remediation to keep them from falling behind once they get to high school.
Connie Smith, assistant commissioner for accountability, teaching and learning with the Tennessee Department of Education, warned school board members and county commissioners at a joint meeting earlier this month that test scores will fall after the standards go into place.
But the standards will help prepare students for jobs with employers such as Volkswagen, she said.
The new statewide standards, which match federal academic standards, will go into effect this fall.
OH Rhonda, lower the standards below federal standard?. Make it easier for kids to graduate? You really have no idea what your responsibliity is as a school board member. It's not to continuously complain about things. It is to insure we are graduating the best, smartest kids we can. Not just run them through and give them a diploma - that doesn't prepare them for the future. No, everyone will not go to college but it should be your goal and the goal of every HCDE employee and board member that as many as possible do.
Do you think the school boards in China, or Germany, or anywhere else for that matter are pushing for lower standards. I honestly think you don't even care about children, I think you like the sound of your own voice and seeing your picture in the paper. Your latest comments at the Pachyderm Club may be your most ridiculous and short sighted comments ever-and that is saying something!
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