We're People!! Not Numbers!! An Analysis of the WASL

The new statewide graduation requirement of passing the WASL is a dream crusher for it’s test takers. Thus saying that a student is unable to receive a high school diploma that they have otherwise worked hard for. As Christine Gregiore took her office as the governor she implemented the graduating class of 2008 will have to pass the WASL to graduate. This requirement is on top of the already hectic graduation requirements. This requirement is informing the students that if they are unable to pass that they are not smart enough to graduate. But this requirement does not require home school and private school students. If they are not required to pass the WASL than public schools shouldn’t either.

Although the WASL calls for a certain type of math skills, science skills, writing skills and reading skills the test is a lost cause. Because even what the students are being taught is not compliant to the test so it sets the test takers up for failure. Most public schools changed their curriculum to mirror the WASL but those curriculums take away what students are supposed to know for the “real world.” Like basic math concepts such as balancing a checkbook, understanding interest rates, the basic concepts of algebra, fractions, and converting measurements. In the 10th grade WASL math section the test calls for the minimum comprehension of an 8th grader but in the questions it calls for college algebra. Also many science classrooms have lab equipment that is going to waste because in order to pass the WASL. There for many teachers are forced to teach irrelevant materiel to their courses.

The WASL is supposed to be a skills test but for whom, the teachers who are forced to teach it or the students who are forced to learn it? Some sources say that it is for the teachers and others say it is for the students. It is all a matter of opinion on who it is for. In 2004 President Bush passed a bill named the “No Child Left Behind” that requires that under no education circumstances is a child to be left behind. The WASL totally is incompliant with the bill. Because even if a student meets the standard graduation requirements of the school a student can have their diploma revoked due to their failure to pass the WASL. Do schools do this for more state funding? Not all but some schools force their students to pass the WASL to gain more state funding.

The WASL is set up to create failure. Can an honor student struggle to attempt to pass the test and their slacker relative pass with flying colors? Cala Millicent, an honor student at Granite Falls High School watched her brother pass all four sections and than she didn’t pass any. In 2004 only 39% of 48,000 students passed all four sections of the WASL. See even honor students can have trouble to pass this so-called test. Minorities have issues with the test too. So far ¾ of the African American and Latino students have failed one or more sections. 70% of the students that live in poverty, constisting of mostly Asians and Whites have had their diplomas revoked due to failing the WASL. The instructions on the test are unclear and when the test taker thinks that they are following directions the test fails them. Such as in the math section a question will ask the test taker to explain their reasoning and answer with words “and/or” pictures. Even though the test states “and/or” the test only wants you to explain with one or the other.

The WASL being a graduation requirement is ludicrous to the fact the state thinks that this is going to raise the graduation rates by using the test that fails most of it’s test takers. Therefore the if the state wants higher graduation than make the WASL graduation requirement obsolete!! This will create a higher graduation rate. Because encouragement will better a better foundation to a school district and it’s state education board. A student should only pass their high school graduation requirements. At Granite Falls High School their basic graduation requirements consist of 22.5 class credits (core classes, fine arts, P.E., and electives), 80 hours of documented community service, and a Senior Culmination Project (work from their high school career and a small project done in their senior year). At Cedarcrest High School the graduation requirements consists of 23 to 21 class credits. The reason why there is two different credit requirements is because the Class of 2008 is required at least 23 credits and the Class of 2009 is required at least 21 credits.

Some Washington State colleges are contemplating to implement the passing of the WASL as a requirement for admission. This is another way the state is telling students that they can’t do what they dream of. So does the state plan to keep our skill level to the same standards that they are now? If colleges implement the test as an admission requirement students will never have to move away to obtain the degree or skills necessary to get a better job. Because most students need to go to college to obtain their dreams. Therefore the WASL needs to become a piece of paper and be done with it.

The WASL crushes the dreams of its test takers and make them think that if they do not pass the test the that their intelligence is not worth it. Therefore the state should stop being ignorant and destroy the WASL and leave the schools alone. The schools should be able to go back to teaching what will be used in everyday life. Intelligence should not be measured by an ill written test. But by what is in the person’s heart and their expertise at what they do. In conclusion,
Dream On and Do Not Let A Test Score Define Who You Are!!!