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Oregon Dems Scrap Math, Reading Requirements for HS Graduation

Oregon Dems Scrap Math, Reading Requirements for HS Graduation

In anticipation of low test scores caused by the pandemic, Democrats in Oregon are making it easier to graduate high school.

In July, Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D), signed into law a bill that allows students to graduate without demsonstraintg proficiency in reading, writing, or math. Supporters claim it will benefit minority students who tend to test poorly.

The new law is an extension of a suspension put into place during the pandemic and will remain in effect for up for five years, during which time the state’s education department will work with representatives for ‘historically underserved students’ to develop new graduation requirements.

‘Leaders from [disadvantaged] communities have advocated time and again for equitable graduation standards, along with expanded learning opportunities and supports,’ said Charles Boyle, a spokesperson for Governor Brown. 

Republican opponents say math, reading, and writing are essential skills students need to pursue a productive life as an adult. Removing proficiency requirements lowers the expectations for our kids and hurts them by awarding diplomas that imply a level of education they don’t actually have. 

“Oregon schools were among the last in the country to reopen to in-person instruction during the pandemic,” argues the KATU’s Editorial Board. “Our legislators should be focused on how to help students regain the ground they’ve lost after a year and a half of distance learning and hybrid instruction – not on lowering standards.”

Before the pandemic, students in Oregon were required to demonstrate basic proficiency in “essential skills” math, reading, and writing to earn a diploma. In most casts, they were not required to take a test to do so.

Sources:

Oregon governor signs bill suspending math, reading proficiency requirements for HS graduates 

Oregon Gov Kate Brown scraps need for high school students to prove proficiency in math, reading, and writing to get diploma in bid to bolster minority students who ‘don’t test well’ 

Oregon Dems Eliminate High School Reading Proficiency Requirement 

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27 Comments

  1. Alan Scher

    Why have school at all?

  2. Lawrence Foster

    That ,may be the most racist bill passed in modern history. Helping minority students do what – prepare for a life on welfare? Without reading, writing and math they cannot even get a job at MacDonalds. Thanks for the “help” gov.

    • Florida Phil

      But they’ll argue that White supremacy is at fault. And some will believe them and riot over the issue.

    • The Redhawk

      OR the IDIOT GOVERNOR wants to JUSTIFY how an UNEDUCATED IGNORANT STUOID IDIOT like her can RISE in DEmocrat politucs to become another elected sTUPID PIMP in OREGON !

  3. Anonymous

    Please stop sending me this stuff

    • punching

      What is your email? We will remove you

    • Dolores

      How racist,humiliating, embarrassing. This SUPPOSED LEADER, IN. SECRET SIGNED A BILL WITH HER SIGNATURE, TELLING THE WORLD, THAT ETHNICS CANNOT DO MATH. BUT CAN READ PROPAGANDA WILL ZEAL. 1984,. JUST HOW LOW FOES THIS ENTITY CONSIDER THE ETHNICS ON THE HUMAN SCALE… OR IS SHE BUILDING HER PRIVATE ARMY Y OF DO NOTHING SLAVES. BUT FOLLOW HER. LETS SEE HITLER DID IT, AND MAO AND EVERY GENOCIDAL INSANE TYRANT DID IT. AND IF YOU DISAGREE WITH HER MAJESTY, OFF WITH YOUR HEAD. IS THIS WHERE OBAMAO, HIS ONE OF THREE THOUSAND GUILLOTINES??????

      • Joe S Bruder

        Dolores, you forgot to write down this part:

        AAAAAAHHHHHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAA THEY’RE COMING TO TAKE ME AWAY HAHA

        Ya know, that button on the left side, with the little light on it… if you press it again, until the light goes off, your text won’t be in all-caps (which, by common agreement, means you’re shouting)… but I think you’ll still come off as crazy, sorry…

  4. Lisa

    So it’s not insulting at all to say we have to change the game because minorities just aren’t smart. Do most minorities agree with this? At what point are they going to speak up and tell democrats to stop using and insulting them, pathetic.

  5. Ben

    “The new law is an extension of a suspension put into place during the pandemic and will remain in effect for up for five years, during which time the state’s education department will work with representatives for ‘historically underserved students’ to develop new graduation requirements“

    I find it interesting that you you automatically associate historically underserved students with minorities.
    To me that indicates students of low economic means. Unless you left out a some quotes to back up your assertions, I think this conclusion reflects poorly upon you and your preconceived ideas.

    • Anonymous

      So all these children shouldn’t have to even learn how to spell add or even speak proper english according to your “logic” shouldn’t even matter about race or “social” status correct? I mean are YOU gonna give these children jobs? Don’t be an idiot! You obviously can at least spell correct?

      • Ben

        Anon,
        After reading your post several times to decipher it, I am reconsidering my position.

        Obviously, at the very minimum, we need some type of standard on writing and punctuation.

        They say you can’t change a person’s mind by arguing on the internet, you have proved them wrong.

      • Joe S Bruder

        Meanwhile, at your school, they left out grammar, punctuation, and how to write a coherent sentence.

    • Nitpicker

      Ben you ducked the point here entirely, and speaking of “preconceived ideas”, that’s all I’ve ever seen you post. But to get to the point, let’s try a little sarcasm. Let’s just start handing out medical degrees and see how that works out.

    • Nitpicker

      Five years, huh? Everyone knows that the hardest thing to do in government is to end a handout program. The high school students in Oregon are doomed.

  6. LJ

    Way to guarantee that no one will hire a minority fresh out of high school in the near future as it would be assumed they can not make minimal literacy standards. Like all DEMs the school system is ascribing the lowest level of achievement to minorities. Why do people keep voting for these insulting people??

    • Ben

      LJ,
      I see no quotes that directly speak of minorities. It’s telling that you and the rest of Punching Bag readers automatically associate “historically underserved “ with minorities.
      So when your ilk try arguing that minorities aren’t treated differently, reference this column and these responses. Y’all finally let the cat out of the bag. Albeit on accident, but thank you for finally admitting that you know minorities are historically underserved, but you used to use dog whistles, now it’s out in the open.

      • Nitpicker

        Ben, stop trying to change the subject to your favorite red herring: racism.

      • Nitpicker

        Ben, read the last sentence of the second paragraph. ” Supporters claim it will benefit minority students who tend to test poorly.” C’mon man!

        • Ben

          Picker, as you will note from your post, “supporters” included minorities in their statement. Thanks to Alice’s stellar reporting , We have no idea who those “ supporters” may be. The SCHOOL BOARD, on the other hand never mentions race, only “historically underserved students”. My point stands

    • Nitpicker

      Yes LJ, you have hit upon the insidious part. While one might believe (if you really stretch) that Dems actually think they are helping — they are, in fact, destroying the futures of most, if not all, of these young adults.

  7. Dan Tyree

    They want kids to be stupid so they can more easily be indoctrinated

  8. Anonymous

    It’s all goin to pot, whether we like it or not! Complements of Willie Nelson!

  9. John J

    They always want to keep them stupid. so they will vote democrat

    • Ben

      John,
      Trump “ loves the uneducated”.
      Nailed that one, the one time he didn’t lie.

      • Dan Tyree

        Trump likes for people to be educated but not indoctrinated. But no amount of education can fix stupid and every commiecrat voter is a moron. And yes, it’s the party of commiecrats that thinks that minority voters are too stupid to have a picture ID.

  10. Nitpicker

    Look at that idiotic woman in the picture. She’s cheering because she just assured the teacher’s union that they don’t have to learn math or reading themselves, much less teach it.

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