Educational Jibber Jabber

Well.  Six Washington County schools failed to meet proficiency standards in 2010 as compared to 2009 when all schools met the standards.  The following paragraphs appeared last week in reporter Julie Green's article in Hagerstown's Herald-Mail:

Snow days, absences due to the H1N1 flu, students blowing off tests, a poor economy and the increasing thoughness in meeting higher goals were among the possible reasons school board officials discussed for declining results.

"But I don't want to portray to the public in any way that we're making excuses," Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Morgan said.

Upon reading Morgan's comment, I thought it only fair to do a little digging of my own and I discovered that, indeed, education officials were offering no excuses.

The principal of Soupy Sales Elementary School told me that the sun was in the eyes of his kids on test day, while board member Ronald McDonald stated that he found that an entire class had its collective shoes untied when taking the exam.  Indeed, a vice-principal who wishes to remain anonymous, from Moe Howard Middle School said that their entire 7th grade had called "timesies" right before the test booklets were distributed.

One teacher with whom I spoke suggested that "This year's kids are just dumber than last year's," but she was immediately fired for violating Board Policy which states, "Anyone declaring that the Emperor is naked shall be driven from the Empire."

Good thing Superintendents aren't required to pass an efficiency exam in irony.

Comments

[Melissa Dodge]

What I'll never understand is the disappointment and consternation of all involved when the schools fail to duplicate last year's apple sauce recipe with this year's batch of oranges.