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Lycoming County Law Day Celebrations

Law Day 2004 Art & Essay Contest Winning Entries

Posted on May 1st, 2004 at 8:43 PM

Law Day 2004 was celebrated in a packed Lycoming County Courthouse Court Room on Friday, May 1, 2004 Here are the winning art and essay entries.

SHOULD STUDENT PASS A TEST

I think some people should and some should not have to pass a test. People who were mart in grades and listened should have to pass a test. People who were not good and fought with the teacher and don’t know how to raise their hands should have to pass a test.

Christian Hugar, Ashkar Elementary School

It is almost indescribable of how strongly I feel that students should pass the PSSA with proficiency. I believe that the PSSA is not extremely difficult for even the lower levels of students to understand. It is mostly basic reading and math, that any student should be able to understand and pass to better be able to function in society. I also believe that if a student is putting forth all the effort, they can easily pass. If a student does not put forth the effort, they should not be granted the privilege of going to college and having the pride of being a high school graduate and college alumni. I strongly believe in the law that states that all students must pass the PSSA with proficiency in order to graduate.

Lucy Stubler, McCall Middle School

I do not think that students should have to pass a P.S.S.A. test to graduate from high school. I think this because not all students learn the same way. Some students are stronger at some academic areas than others. Just because students don’t do well on a test does not mean that they will not succeed in life. If people do not do well on the test it could really change their lives in a negative way. People should be able to graduate based on the grades they receive throughout school. In my opinion, graduation should not come down to one big test after all the hard work put into school for thirteen years.

Mikah Manotti, McCall Middle School

PASSING INTO INDEPENDENCE

As of the 2002-2003 school year, high school students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have been required to pass a state assessment in order to graduate. I believe this is an important and completely necessary verification of a student’s preparedness for his or her adult life.

The purpose of the assessment is “...to assure that students are able to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information, and communicate significant knowledge and understanding.” (www.pacode.com).

The subjects tested by a PSSA test are all those which a student would use in a successful adult life. Topics of reading, writing, and mathematics all prepare a student for college exams. PSSA tests also prepare students for SAT’s and other College Board tests that they take in the eleventh and twelfth grades.

If students can’t pass high school, they won’t be eligible for many professional positions. Scoring at “proficient” or higher on the PSSA might give students incentive to go to college and therefore get better jobs. Even if a student’s education ended after high school, the themes tested on a proficiency exam would still be needed in everyday life: reading a menu, writing a letter, or balancing a checkbook.

For these reasons I believe that the benefits of the PSSA proficiency test far outweigh any drawbacks.

Rachael Kempf, Lycoming Valley Middle School

PSSA: Is it Up to Standard?

The PSSA has had a great impact on Lycoming County’s education system in the past few years. To meet new state and national standards, students must pass the PSSA to graduate from high school. The argument is that the PSSA is a reliable indicator of a student’s core understanding of math and English.

There are three reasons why this testing method should be adjusted. First, many students take the SAT, which tests for math and English mastery. Second, not all students are equal. For instance, students in the learning disability classes at my school take the same PSSA test as the students in gifted classes. Different levels of education should take different tests. Finally, for decades, students passed according to their grades. If classes follow state standards, shouldn’t a passing grade signify mastery of the material?

Conceptually, the idea that students should demonstrate a level of proficiency is a good one. However, there is a need for change in this testing method. Students in special education classes should be exempt from the PSSA or given a different assessment. Also, students taking high level classes and earning predetermined SAT scores should not be required to take the PSSA. Standards are important, and the PSSA doesn’t quite score proficient.

Nicholas Johnson Curtin Middle School

Throughout my high school career, I have dreaded the PSSA. In my opinion, it is a substandard technique to waste the time and energy of students, who would otherwise be excelling rapidly. Students should have to surpass a certain peak to graduate; but the PSSA holds back the nonpareil students, who need to be motivated, not stressed. For approximately two weeks learning is impeded as the juniors test, but in junior classes almost a month is wasted in preparing for this exam. Teachers are teaching to the test and losing valuable time that could be instituted to make learning interesting. Whether it is making fire in chemistry or writing like Shakespeare in English, nothing is more exciting than trying to apply the information hands on. Another problem of the PSSA is the standards make all students mentally conform. Schools claim to teach individualism, but the PSSA forces students to think with one method. Just think. If Ben Franklin would have been forced to think like everybody else, we may never have received the multitude of contributions he gave to our country.

Jessica Sweeney, Montoursville High School

Cheyanne Reichelderfer art