Higher standards would benefit Michigan students

Published 7:57 am Saturday, September 9, 2006

By Staff
State representative Neal Nitz, R-Baroda, presented a plan Thursday evening that would, among other things, raise the graduation requirements for all Michigan students. Presenting in front of the Berrien Springs school board, Nitz met some resistance to his plan.
Some board members said the plan, while being politically expedient, would make the job of school administrators more difficult due to the one size fits all nature of the proposal. The members felt raising the bar for graduation requirements would be particularly troublesome for struggling schools in the state, since higher standards could lead to lower test scores, which in turn would lead to a lower rating for the school, putting it in danger of sanctions under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Nitz said he was visiting to gain input on his proposal, and input he did receive. Met with opposition, however, he wavered on his position, saying the standards have not yet been enacted and that they can still be changed. There is logic to bringing a plan to the people who would implement it, but Nitz backed down a little too easily in the face of scrutiny.
Higher education standards should not be feared, especially in the elementary grades. Now, we realize children learn in different ways and different rates, but children are also able to adapt, and adaptability is likely the most advantageous quality of youth. Setting the bar high for students, particularly early on, will show them not only what they will need to know to further themselves in life, but it will better prepare them for the unforgiving job market, even if it is more than a decade in their future.
A more challenging curriculum may also make it easier for educators to identify early on students who may be struggling or excelling, or students who may be more inclined for a vocational learning path versus a collegiate path.
Higher standards may present a challenge for educators as well, since more time will be required to deliver more education. Schools with high ratings may see those ratings decline somewhat as well. Parents also may not like seeing report cards lacking in 'A' grades.
One thing that is probably not stressed nearly enough to students is the most important reason for which they are attending school – to get a good job. At the end of the day, employers generally do not care what grades potential employees received on their report cards, of how well their school is rated. Employers want employees who can perform the tasks for which they are hired.
Some may say Nitz's plan is a political move, but higher standards for our students is never a bad idea.