Im Very Disturbed Today

Graduation proves that you were able to complete all things required to graduate. It takes planning, hard work, and perseverance to get that one time chance to walk across the stage and receive that special document stating that you met all the standards for graduation.
Why do you think moms and dads cry their eyes out when they hear their kids name called and see them walking on that stage. It took a lot to get there!
It is also the first step in letting a potential employer know you are a trustworthy, hard working individual.
Lowering the standards of graduation, lowers the standards of America.

I'm sorry. But I agree with some of the other posters: If you haven't successfully completed the work (the graduation test, and yes, all GA public high school students have to pass it) then you shouldn't graduate. It is one of many requirements. It isn't pick and choose which requirements you would like to complete....

As for the band fees.... that whole thing seems odd to me. I suspect that they already bent some rules for that young man.... Let me explain: Usually, if there is a "fee" in place to participate in something, if you don't pay it up front, then you aren't allowed to participate. Soooo if he didn't pay the fee and continued to participate, then they have already shown him leniency: a longer period of time in which to comply. He didn't follow through. That is on him. He knew in advance that he had this fee that he wasn't paying. Why did he continue with the course/class/activity?

I was IN band for most of my school career, from 6th grade forward. There weren't that many fees... things may have changed, but I am sure that he knew about whatever fees were involved. Perhaps he didn't research the point in the graduation requirements that says that all outstanding fees/charges must be paid. But that, too, is on him, to know what is required to graduate. If he didn't know, or did nothing to complete the required items (including paying outstanding fees,or paying fees ON TIME) then he shouldn't have any expectations of graduating until he did. Life lesson. One of many....
It's great that he was an A/B student. But responsibility is something kids need to learn and put into practice, too.

And I don't agree with you that there should be a gov't fund/program to pay off the fees. Everybody wants freedom to do what they want, until they can't pay for it. THEN, the government needs a "program". Yes, the public schools are there to educate everyone. Band is an "ELECTIVE", meaning: HIS CHOICE. The REST of society doesn't have to pay for his choices. I could go on about that.. but I will stop there.

D.:

It's a public school - the government (i.e. tax payers - because remember the government is NOT a business - it gets its money from WE THE PEOPLE) already pays for it. What else do you expect the government to do?

Band is an extra-curricular activity. Why should the taxpayers pay for an extra-curricular activity? Tax payers should ONLY pay for what is REQUIRED. Not "EXTRA".

If your child or any other child wants EXTRA - they need to pay for it. Most school systems have fund raisers and scholarship programs. They should have checked into that. If they wanted the glory without paying for it - well - too bad.

As to your daughter? She knew what was required. She failed to pass the test. Yes. Each time her scores got better - great!! Now you need to buck up and find a tutor for her so that she can pass the tests and graduate. If you can't afford it - find a scholarship program. If there isn't one? Find a way to create one. If you don't want to do that - sell stuff that you aren't using and get the money that way - it's called sacrifice. We do this for our children to ensure they get what they need. The government nor taxpayers should fund a tutor for your daughter. You can help her study. You can help her by finding a tutor if you don't understand it yourself.

If you don't like the way things are done. Change them. Contact the school board and find out WHY they do it this way. LEARN about the process. Then become part of the process...make the changes. Once you are on the school board, find out who you need to go to next - the board of education or WHERE EVER and make the changes you think need to be made.

In the end, it's up to the student. They know what they need to do to graduate. It's THEIR responsibility. NOT the parent. Yes. the parent needs to ensure they have the tools they need to be successful, but in high school - the YOUNG ADULTS need to learn how to get those tools as well to become SUCCESSFUL and SELF-SUFFICIENT members of society.

Finishing all high school requirements before involving a graduation should be required. As far as government funding....no. My paycheck barely covers my living expenses and no I don.t live a luxurious lifestyle or even have things like cable, iPods, multiple computers. I put off going to the doctor and dentist so my kids can go. I am 98.00 from free lunches for my kids at school. one of my kids has kids in his class that has 185.00 gym shoes, iPad,iPhone,2 computers and they drive a brand new SUV while I drive a used Chevy.cavalier. So forgive me but no I dont want my taxes to go up so that someone who is capable of working a part time job or their parent a full time job(government...me and other tax payers) pay their way. So for band no I can't ante up more. Also these fees did not magically appear and the rule of payment at most school is embedded all year long. Every year of high school that they must keep current to recieve privileges of grades and graduation. They knew...so failure to plan on your part does not constitute me opening my wallet. Lawns can be mowed. Kids can be babysat. Burgers can be flipped.
let me state however there is a time and a place for government assistance for those who have hit the bottom and need a hand up from there but unless severely disabled should have a plan and work 24/7 to get out of that situation but for survival only not luxuries and band is a luxury.

There are alot of choices in life. Choosing not to study or choosing not to pay off debts aren't the best choices.

I really don't get this idea that the public schools hate everyone and are out to get kids. There are so many programs and opportunities and OPTIONS so that what you are talking about doesn't happen.

Education is super super important, and I do want everyone to have a Diploma, but more importantly i want that diploma to show that they are knowledgeable and have earned their education. I don't want it to be something you get for breathing.

I don't see how you can pass the class and not pass the test. It doesn't sound like the test was the issue but the curriculum isn't hard enough.

Ya know I had to take an online class and the grades weren't in on time so I didn't get my diploma when I actually walked. It really isn't the big deal you are making it out to be. Come to think of it my oldest did too, I guess there is a pattern there...oops.

So far as band goes you don't have to do marching band to take band so it is his own grave to dig. There was no reason *he* couldn't have got a part time job and paid the fees himself.

After reading your what happened: Senior fees, there should be something out there to help them because that is a requirement. Band fees no way in heck. I know for a fact that concert band has no fees beyond the instrument so you have to be talking marching band. I had to have a part time job to pay mine I see no reason when the privileged kids today can't do the same. Everything doesn't need to be handed to them.

I hope you get a tutor for your daughter so she can learn procedures and how to take a test efficiently so she can pass. So you think they should do away with testing so everyone can graduate?

No, I do not believe that I, as a taxpayer, should be paying someone else's way through school becuase they can't afford it. We've worked hard to get where we are.

Of course, we give to certain organizations in our community but I don't donate to pay other student's dues, fees, etc. You know going in to school that you will have certain fees and dues and if you can't pay them and there are no scholarships available for it I am sorry, maybe you need to find an activity you can afford.

I am so sorry. But I am sure you daughter will be able to pass that test..
Make sure she attends as many tutoring sessions as possible. Some of the upper level math problems on those tests can be difficult.. I dare any parent to take one of these state, math, exit tests.. they are very humbling..

Your daughter was lucky they even let her walk with graduation.. Here if you do not meet ALL the requirements you do not even get to sit with the class at graduation.. Instead you will graduate once the requirements are fulfilled with the next class.

As for the band situation.. the family should have worked something out with the school.. The young man could have paid this out through out the year. He could have raised his own money..

Again here in town the kids are all told how much participating in extracurricular cost.. They they are given a list of chances to raise these funds or apply for scholarships..

No one should wait until the every end of school to take care of these things.

I totally disagree that the gov should pay for this. However I do believe that individual districts should wave or reduce certain fees for those who can prove that they are impoverished. This is what our district does.

These are two separate situations. As for your daughter, you obviously knew the requirements for graduation up front. Sadly, your daughter did not meet them...simple as that. I would be completely upset too. The only thing to do with this one is to get her a tutor to ensure that she passes this summer. Do this and just move on...

As for the other situation, a public school education does not guarantee that all students get to participate in all activities. Band is a WONDERFUL thing to do, but is not required. I was in band in school and there were fees associated with band camp etc... However, there were numerous fundraisers throughout the year to help kids raise the required funds. If a child was willing to work and put some effort into it, there was a way to participate. The band had some instruments available so that kids could still participate in band even if they could not purchase an instrument. I think the outstanding fee situation should have been resolved WAY before it became a graduation issue.

Does your school district offer tutoring/prep sessions for these tests? I live in NY where you need to take Regents exams for every academic subject over your 4 years in HS, and the same, if you don't pass these proficiency in subject exams, it doesn't matter what your average is. If there is test prep available for your daughter, I'd take advantage.
Not allowing a graduate to take part in graduation due to financial obilgations in a public school should be a crime. Public school is supposed to be free. Band should not only be available to the kids from well to do families. I'd go to the media with that one. I don't agree that this is something for the government to pay for. Individual school districts/PTO's should budget/fundraise for this.

With regard to your friend's son who wasn't allowed to "walk" because he didn't pay his fees it makes sense because it is an extracurricular activity that everyone knew about. I'm really surprised they let him participate in band at all without paying his fees. I had to pay for softball, PE clothes, yearbooks, dance & football tickets (way to many extra things to count). Junior year my daughter left her chemistry book in class and it was gone. If I hadn't paid all of her fees for a replacement, she would not have been able to "walk" at graduation last year. Your close friend did her son a huge disservice by not paying his band fees and allowing him to participate.

Most states have a high school exit exam and I think it is great to have them. I looked quickly at the GA Department of Education website and it looks like there are many resources for your daughter. Yes, some kids do not do well on tests but they are given many, many opportunities to do so and it's up to them to make it happen (even if they do online tutoring every day during the summer after Sophomore year). I'm very surprised they let her participate, here they would not have.

First, I've got mixed feelings on these decisions as to who "walks" and who doesn't. I can see why the schools hold that over parents who haven't paid fees that they committed to paying, but is this fair to the student? I can see why some say that if a student hasn't passed a required test, maybe they shouldn't walk? I don't know.

Next, I don't get those who say that "the government shouldn't pay for this". Public school is public (available to everyone) because we the people decided decades ago that educating ALL children was important. We the people make up our government, it is not some separate entity. The government - which is all of us - should absolutely pay for all children to be educated. And, where do you think the school districts get their money? From taxes - local, state, and federal taxes - in other words "the government"!

If education requires a laptop, or a band instrument, or books, then those should be provided to every student, not just those whose families can afford all the extra fees and expenses.

If we as a society could drop the ridiculous "no new taxes!" mantra, our kids could be more equally educated.

i find it maddening that a kid who DID pass his tests couldn't walk, and kids who haven't actually passed the work do get to walk.
what a weird country this is becoming.
my son got his associates degree a couple of weeks ago. there was a whole section devoted to people who were walking across the stage and getting their degrees, but hadn't yet completed the course work. wth? my kid actually finished his classes last year, but waited until this year to walk.
so weird.
i mean, what does graduation actually mean?
khairete
S.

good grief, that's just sad, on both counts - but i really feel for the boy who wasn't allowed to walk due to money! how much did he owe? i wish you would have posted earlier in the week, i would have done my best to try to pay it myself to the school - that just breaks my heart :(

I agree with the money part, it’s not fair to not be able to participate in your graduation if you don’t have the funds for it. However, I don’t agree with you on graduating if you don’t pass; I grew up on another country and if you didn’t pass you had to take summer classes for the subject and if you didn’t pass, then you had to go another semester taking the class, until you passed the subject, you didn’t graduate no matter how many times you took the class, just like in college.

I attend a grandparents raising grandchildren support group in my area. It is a most awesome experience.

One of the grandmothers had just went to enroll her grandson in Jr. High and had been very upset. This particular school is one where you rent a laptop and the child's homework, class schedules, syllabus, etc....are all on this one laptop. They basically carry it from class to class, use it as the book, the paper, and the pencil.

Her son had just died from the flu and she was still reeling over this. She now had his 4 children ranging from a nearly newborn up to this young parson starting jr. high. She was not a "professional" who had a high paying career nor did she get any sort of income from her son's death.

They went to enroll him in school and they would not take the paperwork without a $200 check for the deposit on the computer. She told them she didn't have it so they told her to bring the paperwork back when she did. They just stood there dumbfounded. Here she was a grandmother who had just finished applying for food stamps and child care assistance and she was not allowed to enroll her grandson in school due to a fee she could not afford.

She went and borrowed the money from her employer and was able to get him enrolled the next day but still. There is the free lunch program for low income kids, there are programs that cover other expenses in school too. Why not have programs to cover testing and fees that low income families cannot afford.

It's not like we have any other options when it comes to this. Who wants to have a bunch of drop outs because they are too poor to be able to afford this kind of stuff?

If you are or have been poor then you understand , if you have never had to go without food so your kids can eat seconds, or had to wash your clothes in the bathtub and hand them to dry because you don't have enough money to go to the laundry mat, then you may or may not "get" this. There are a lot of people out there who cannot afford another penny to go to something outside the food and shelter they have each month.

D., have you checked to see if there is a program that helps lower income families fund these fees? Have you talked to the PTA? Perhaps they could help you.

I'm wondering if you could have had help paying the fees earlier if you had inquired then.

Our school district's registration and sports fees are huge. Most of the students can afford it because we live in an affluent area, but I really think that we probably have a fund set up through the PTA or perhaps through the district that helps families who can't afford it.

I disagree with the previous poster who says that the taxpayers shouldn't have to fund extracurriculars. The taxpayers fund everything that has to do with public schools. They just don't fund it 100%. If my school district took her attitude, it would only be the well-off kids who got to do anything, regardless of talent and circumstance. Letting that happen not only hurts the students, it hurts the school as a whole. Keeping kids engaged in these programs helps them in so many ways - keeping them out of trouble, keeping them involved, helping them be better students, etc. And accepting them utilizes their considerable talents. As a taxpayer, I am happy to spend a couple of bucks to help a child who needs it.

Don't ever think that everyone feels that middle class, lower middle class, or lower income people don't matter. It's not true.

You are right that some kids have trouble testing, D., especially the standardized testing. Taking what a kid has learned in the classroom and translating it into a different format is hard. One of the reasons they are using these tests starting in first grade is to get children used to it. I hope you can find someone who will be willing to help with tutoring - perhaps somehow you can "barter" for their tutoring services, something that they need, so you can afford the tutoring.

Separate from the testing issue, congratulations to your daughter for graduating! School is hard work these days and our kids are to be commended for making it all the way through. I hope that your daughter and your friend's son will go to community college AND get a job. Getting core classes done in CC may help them tremendously, help them mature into testing, and prepare them for a degree in something that can launch them fine careers!

All my best,
Dawn

The State has low standards for education as it is, so I would be focusing on why my kid isn't passing this test and not worrying about anything else.

As for the boy; this is an extra curricular activity he has been in all school year. I am very sure that the school notified him that if he didn't pay, he didn't walk.

I personally would have offered to pay the band fees and let the boy make payments to me or work it off. How about instead of a government fund, you start a fund for kids to play in extra curricular activities?!!

Regarding your daughter...check with the department of education about portfolio requirements for passing in place of the test i know it is possible in florida. Some kids do not test well and that is a fact of life. Good luck

Totally ridiculous, you're right.

Can you get another student or teacher to tutor your daughter before the test?

Ultimately as angry as you are, i would be too., you want to make sure she gets her diploma. get her a tutor...

sorry you are going thru this....

We have them here in Ohio too, the OGT's. I passed all four the first time, I was lucky. But I had friends who really, really struggled to pass and almost didn't graduate. Now that I am older, I have friends who's kids are going through the same thing. They are fair students (b's and c's), but have a really hard time with the tests.
I am also friends with quite a few high school teachers who absolutely hate the tests. As much as the official stance is that they don't teach for the tests, they are the first to admit that they spend way too much time teaching for the tests. It sucks. You can get straight A's, but if you choke on testing day, if you're having a bad day, or don't feel well, it can keep you from graduating. Dumb.

Hello,

I have always disliked test taking too, so I feel your daughter's pain...take heart, she's only a couple of points off and will eventually pass the test. If not, hopefully she will just go to the nearest junior college and continue her education.

I did so so in high school, before turning 18, I worked at Woolworths for two years. My grandmother taught all of us to work hard at any job and by the time I left Woolworths, I could work in any department in the store and was considered one of the fastest and accurate cashiers. (I had to take a math test before starting at Woolworth and I was so nervous that I would not pass. Looking back it was so simple almost elementary math, but at the time it seemed like algebra. I somehow managed to passed.

I started in the corporate world as a file clerk, worked by way up to accounting clerk, then senior accounting clerk (I did not like accounting, but for some reason with a great adding machine and basic skills it worked for me) until I could find a secretarial position, then administrative position, then a marketing/sales position, then my own business, so on and so on....It didn't happen overnight, but I can honestly say, I have trained more college graduates then I can count, they were smart kids (book smart), but some had very little practical experience. To make a long story longer, there's a place in this world for anyone who refuses to give up and not let the disappointments we face get the best of them.

I am more concerned about the boy who was not allowed to take part in his graduation because of money. That is just disgusting and I would take that school and the school board to task. I would write to every news agency and or notify CNN....Something like this really needs to CHANGE.

I hope you and your friend are able to make a big deal for your seniors, take them out or BBQ and a big old CAKE that says CONGRATULATIONS!

I hear ya! Too bad there aren't people in the community willing to sponsor a scholarship fund for extracurricular activities. Maybe there's a music store who would be willing to sponsor X number of kids for band, or a sporting goods store who could sponsor kids for school teams. Or a local church could sponsor X number of kids for an activity of their choice. The PTA starting a scholarship fund is a good idea if the school isn't a majority of low-income families (because it's usually the families giving money for the fundraisers, so it won't be successful if no one can give!). I vehemently disagree that only people with money should be able to participate in **school sponsored** activities. And the whole laptop required at a public school? Completely ridiculous!!