[Pete]

When I went to school each student was required to pass each course at each grade level to be promoted.

I think somewhere in the 80's "some" schools shifted to social promotions and dumbing down the passing grades to move others along. It then became the norm in some areas. The result was grads who could not fill out a job application, make change etc.

The "standardized test" was put in place to insure that everybody was at least at a certain level before being passed to the next grade. Now we have teachers carping that they have no time to teach because they are "teaching to the test".

If the tests do not relect what the tearchers are teaching there is a big problem. Is it the teachers or the test? As the one who saw first hand for the last four years the interaction of students, teachers and higher staff in a high school my vote is on 80% of the teachers.

I think all public schools should have a video system where parents could click in and see what the teacher is up to in your kids classroom. I've stood in the hallway a number of times and listened to teachers in the classroom. My youngest is now in private school.