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A Hero For Our Time
Do Massachusetts authorities have any notion of what they are doing when they deny diplomas to students who have performed adequately for 12 years in school? A woman in her 40ies knows. After 20+ years experience in the food service industry, she was recently laid off from a job after seven years of laudible service. When she went for an interview, people were eager to hire a woman of her experience--until they learned she did not graduate from high school.
These days, the lack of a high school diploma leaves even experienced workers out in the cold. What chance does a young person without a diploma have? Are all the taxpayers in the high-stakes test states prepared to support all these young people who won't be able to find jobs?
Superintendent Fearless on MCAS
Mary Ellen O'Shea
Staff writer
Hampshire Regional Superintendent William G. Erickson expects to hand out diplomas next month regardless of MCAS scores, an action ordered by his School Committee.
And if he loses his professional license, as threatened by the state Department of Education, well, so be it.
"I think it's laying a guilt trip on school committees, frankly," said Erickson of the state's position. "Why don't they take them up on the moral issues rather then just making them worry and feel guilty?"
The Hampshire Regional School Committee has voted three times - unanimously - to award diplomas to students regardless of their scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests.
With six other school districts, the board is defying the section of the state Education Reform Law that requires a passing MCAS score for a diploma. The others are Berkshire Hills, Cambridge, Easthampton, Falmouth, Newburyport and Northampton.
State Department of Education spokeswoman Heidi B. Perlman said this week that Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll may revoke licenses of superintendents and principals who award full diplomas to students who haven't met the MCAS threshold.
Erickson said his board believes the law is up to interpretation, and that diplomas are granted locally.
"It feels an awful lot like a tactic. When Heidi Perlman speaks, that doesn't necessarily make it law," Erickson said.
At Hampshire Regional High School, three of the 120 seniors have yet to pass the tests. Erickon's board will discuss the issue again on June 2, but he has had no indication a change of heart is contemplated.
Easthampton Superintendent John F. Cullinan said Perlman's statement caused him to think. He said he received a telephone call with the same message from Driscoll just after the School Committee voted to ignore the MCAS requirement.
"He needs to do what he needs to do. But, yes, I am obviously concerned about it," Cullinan said.
He also thinks about the impact of the requirement. One of the 119 Easthampton High School seniors has yet to pass the MCAS tests.
"This is a student who would have gotten a diploma last year, and would have been a successful member of society. And now, what? This student can't even get financial aid for college," he said.
At the Amherst Regional School Committee meeting Tuesday, members rejected a resolution that would have authorized the high school to hand out diplomas regardless of MCAS scores. The resolution, drafted by School Committee member Michael Hussin, would have awarded the diplomas based on the fulfillment of the school's academic requirements.
Some members noted that U.S. District Court Judge Michael A. Ponsor has taken a similar case under advisement and asked that the committee wait for a ruling before making a commitment. School Committee member James Duda also pointed out that the state is ready to hand out punishments for those who ignore the requirement.
— Mary Ellen O'Shea
Superintendent fearless on MCAS
The Republican
May 1, 2003
http://www.masslive.com/springfield/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1051774437311090.xml
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
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