It looks like I will be ending my last days of high school on a bad note. Sad I know, but it isn’t all that surprising. The higher ups never really make much sense, so why should they now? Seniors who passed the TAKS test their junior year will not receive the TAKS exemption, meaning they will have to take more exams than freshman.
Granted, we didn’t take the TAKS this year so why should we receive the benefits, but the infuriating aspect of the rule is if a seniors failed the TAKS junior year but passed it this year, they will receive the TAKS exemption.
How is that rational?
It rewards failure. Why does the senior who did everything he needed to do the first time need to give more effort than the one who didn’t? Parenting experts would call this coddling. They would also call it mix messaging. Simply put, this rule is the equivalent of bad parenting.
Desperately, I cling for some sort of logic behind the rule, but like Jack, I slowly find myself slipping off the driftwood of the Titanic. And like Rose, the administration is prying my cold fingers from what’s left of senior privileges.
But then again, they don’t make senior privileges like they use to.
Freshmen receive more exemptions than the average senior. If this doesn’t scream injustice, then you probably thought OJ didn’t do it.
It all boils down to what makes sense. This rule doesn’t. Either take away the TAKS exemption rule or give it to everyone. I lean to the latter, considering the other could cause a riot, though the current incompetent rule could cause the same thing.
Stephanie Shackelford • May 29, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Good point Cole. I agree with you…and like Devin am amazed that I can admit that fact! Nice article. Will miss your wit and intellect next year!
Joshua McCarty • May 27, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I’d have to say, Cole, I never realized that, yeah, seniors who passed the TAKS last year wouldn’t get any exemptions, despite the fact that they were the ones who were great up front. Thanks for bringing the truth out of obscurity. Today, they announced that the seniors can receive exemptions. I would say that it is because of this story, among other gripes or etc. Good going, seniors and co., for having your voice heard. You’ve earned it. 😉
Jenny Davis • May 26, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I agree. I am a junior this year, so I don’t have to worry about exceptions. But the seniors should get a break. For some seniors it will be harder to graduate. I have a relative who will not graduate if he does not pass his finals…poor kid
Drew Gassiot • May 24, 2009 at 5:19 pm
It’s because “the man” is trying to keep you down. The district decision to change the exemption policy spawned from a desire to increase the amount of exams a student has to take. So when handed an excuse to force seniors to take another exam, they gladly used it to create controversy.
Rita • May 22, 2009 at 10:03 am
State legislation may make it so those *more privileged* Freshman will not even take TAKS their Junior year. Could it be possible that teachers can go back to teaching what they love instead of “teaching to the test”? We shall wait and see. But Cole, it looks like you must resign yourself to a dip in the Atlantic. 🙁
Devin Lyles • May 22, 2009 at 7:55 am
As much as I hate to agree with Cole… I agree with Cole. Of course, I’m already being punished for having food poisoning (I had to stay home for a week according to school policy) and have to take EVERY final. So, there’s no justice in the world. Never was, either.