Editoral Comparison

A detailed Summary of Editoral Comparison

In early last year when grade 13 was omitted from the curriculum a literacy test was implemented for grade 10 students to evaluate their ability to read and write. This literacy test has been the most controversial issue to hit the education board since the lack of funding for extra curricular activities. This issue has brought hard aches to students, parents, and even teachers. Students are thrown in to making the decision of what they are planning on doing with the rest of their lives before they even have the chance to grow up and experience what real education is like. Within their first year of secondary education children have to make the drastic decision of deciding whether university is for them, or should they just jump into the working force. Yet a drastic problem has arisen. So many students who written the literacy test have failed, leaving them without a chance of obtaining a high school diploma. The Toronto Star brought about a clear point retaining to the failure of this test, how can someone who fails this test and doesn't obtain a diploma possibly go out there and get a job? Ontario's education minister Elizabeth Witmer has brought up the discussion of possibly implementing a secondary diploma for students who

The question that has arisen so many controversial issues was easily identified with the vast amount of failing students. The National Post came up with these vital statistics "56% of Grade 10 students who do not plan to attend college or university failed the reading or writing or both portions of last February's literacy test." (National Post para. 3) "While only 44% of students in the applied stream passed the test, 87% of young people headed for university or college via the academic stream successfully completed the examination." (National Post para. 9) So the main question is what do we do with all these failing students, what is a good plan to help the realize what is in store for them in the future.

These young children are not ready at the age of 15 of making there future decisions. They are not ready to understand the benefits of University or College and they are definitely not ready to see the possible outcome of not obtaining a high school diploma. A five hour test should not decide the rest of their lives. With such a dramatic result of failures the education boards are confused as to what they should do with all these failing students. The Toronto Star feels that by implementing a alternative diploma you are basically tattooing a big "I" on students heads identifying that they are illiterate and not capable of successfully completing such vigorous testing. While the National Post on the other hand feels that this idea could possibly work with using other means rather then a test, " students would be required to submit a portfolio of their work, including exams conducted throughout the year, writing assignments, job applications and various projects." (National Post para. 8) The alternate d

Some common words found in the essay are:
National Post, Toronto Star, , Star David, University College, Elizabeth Witmer, national post, toronto star, literacy test, alternative diploma, failing students, toronto star feels, school diploma, rest lives, star feels, post para, secondary education, national post para, national post believes, grade 10 students, diploma toronto star,

Approximate Word count = 1161
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics