The Columbian newspaper in August had an article about the WASL (Washington's Assessment of Student Learning) and reportedly reporting on how well the kids did. As it turns out the real issue is on how well the adults did.
I googled the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to see what I could research on this subject.
For "Writing", the OSPI on-line example had the 10th grade kids respond to this question:
"If your home was threatened by fire and you could safely retrieve one or two items before you leave for a secure place what you choose?" (and why?)
There goes all the fire safety training to keep our kids safe.
The ones OSPI liked least were the kids who directly answered the immediate question.
The first one wrote: "If my house were threatened by fire I would try and put the fire out and save everything but since you won't let me."
Another wrote she'd grab the cell phone to call people and a book to read to take her mind off what happened to her home.
The writings OSPI liked best were greater in length, descriptive and sentimental about the importance of various items to their families.
As a 10th grade kid who experienced a fire in her house I would have written very pragmatically myself: “I would call the fire department, grab nothing, and get everyone out. As the Fire Marshall tells us a house can fill with black smoke and be consumed by fire withing 90 seconds."
The adult who wrote this question needs to go to "critical thinking school" and the taxpayers/parents would absolutely be right to assess the public education system continues to fail our kids.
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