Are high school exit exams necessary? More states are saying no

             In America, more states are changing their high school requirements for graduation. For example, students in Mississippi do not have to pass their exams to earn a diploma anymore. "This option gives students another way to demonstrate that they have mastered their course work without making the requirements for graduation contingent upon the outcome of any one particular test," says John Kelly, the chairman of the Mississippi department of education. Although they are not required to pass the exams, they still have to take exams in algebra, English, biology, and u.s history, but only counting 25% of the student's overall grade. The supporters of the exit exams believe that the tests motivate the students to work harder by achieving the minimum standard in their state. The critics believe that exit exams are unnecessary because they place too much pressure on students.
             I believe both sides have valid points on their position. It seems very unreasonable to use the grade of one test the set the basis for whether they graduate or not. Just like scientists do multiple experiments to receive a valid conclusion, students should have other means of a basis that determine whether they graduate or not. But I also believe taking the tests out as a whole would be unnecessary because they do tell the students and the teacher their level of knowledge on the subject, but should not be the reason they do not graduate high school.


http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/04/03/are-high-school-exit-exams-necessary-more-states-are-saying-no/

Maddie murphy pd 6