HELP FOR PARENTS OF: HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Higher Standards: Why we need them
and what they look like

But what happens when it is your son who works hard in Global History, yet scores a failing 62 on the Regents exam? What happens when it is your daughter who is putting in many hours and still not keeping up in English? What happens when it is your teenager who needs an extra year to pass the tests and graduate?

In moments when you wonder why your son or daughter must struggle in ways you never did, remember this is not high school as you experienced it, nor will it be the job market you faced upon graduation.

Our children’s future

High school is not a job training ground, but it is where basic skills and bodies of knowledge create a solid foundation for future growth.

"Basic" is a deceptive word, however. In the world today’s children are entering, understanding computer languages, foreign languages and high-level mathematics is considered "basic." The ability to synthesize current events, scientific data and the written word is fundamental. Problem solvers, independent thinkers, people who possess an understanding of the physical and social world around them...these are the qualities that define the ideal citizens of the 21st Century.

Jobs that require college degrees and professional certificates consume an ever-growing portion of the market. Opportunities for less-educated workers are mainly in the service industry, where it takes at least two full-time jobs to equal the pay of one professional position.

Educators who shaped New York State’s learning standards knew all this when they pushed forward and instituted higher graduation requirements for all students.

Higher standards in the classroom

Today’s learning standards are divided into two groups: content and performance standards. The first tells us what students should know, understand, and be able to do. The latter sets acceptable levels of achievement.

In practice, these standards mean much higher levels of participation and persistence than ever before. When you were in school, you probably remember using primarily two sources of information: the teacher and the textbook. By contrast, today’s students are turning to the Internet, personal interviews, newspaper articles, broadcast events, technical manuals, professional journals, public documents, and more.

In social studies, they might read the original Declaration of Independence from the 1700s along with the Magna Carta from the 1200s and make comparisons between the histories of separate continents and separate centuries. They’re drawing conclusions about the significance of prior events to predict future trends. They’re accomplishing this independently or in cooperative groups without the crutch of a publisher’s textbook summary. In other words, they are thinking for themselves rather than relying on others to do it for them.

Not only have classroom expectations changed, so too have the means to measure student performance. Whereas high school grades were once based almost exclusively on test scores and papers, students today may be required to design a database or spreadsheet, provide a live demonstration of their skills, or submit elaborate projects complete with charts, graphs, and artistic renderings.

Across the subject areas -- math, science, English/language arts, social studies, the arts, foreign languages and physical education -- students are being asked to analyze and interpret information electronically, on paper and in practical situations. They’re participating in, and showing mastery of, experiences that were never imagined in schools 20 years ago.

What can parents do?

So what can parents do to help their sons and daughters succeed in this world of higher learning standards? Of course, students should establish a good record of school attendance and healthy patterns of eating, sleeping and socializing, but there are other steps you and your teen can take together.

• Become familiar with New York State’s learning standards.
  They are available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/home.html.
• Turn to a guidance counselor to understand graduation requirements early on.
• Ask your child’s teachers how they are incorporating learning standards into the curriculum. Throughout high school, individual standards are hit at different times with varying expectations for performance.
• Treat all homework, quizzes and tests as practice for Regents exams and for life. They are significant and cover content and skills necessary to be successful.
• Emphasize the importance of following instructions, listening, observing, paying attention to detail and managing time. Show your teen how you use these same skills in your work and personal life.
• Remember that struggling with a task is not necessarily a bad thing. But when your teen does struggle, be there to provide encouragement and support.

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