Editor:
The old CRCT test was a Georgia standardized test with expectations placed lower than any other state in the country. Now, Georgia has made an effort to raise the bar to be on par with the rest of the country. The new Common Core test shows that Georgia’s educational system needs to improved. Our State did not achieve 40% proficiency in any category (Math, English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Science).
Having moved here nearly a decade ago, I can speak from experience how far behind Georgia is from the state I came from. When evaluating schools, we found that both local districts were about a grade behind our previous Public District in a Yankee State. This has been reinforced to me by others that have moved here from areas. The good news is that if your kid goes through the IB program at Valdosta High School, your child is in a nationwide program that has very high standards.
Teachers are not the problem here. The state standards have been the problem. Expectations need to be raised. I cannot stress how important this is and how it effects jobs in the State of Georgia. Georgia competes with other states for companies to move to Georgia. Most jobs now require some skills and, frankly, not enough kids coming into the workforce have great capabilities in our state. This problem is especially bad in our area.
If we don’t begin attracting businesses to our area that are significant (warehouses and distribution centers are not due to low pay and limited employment), we will not grow. Businesses will not move to areas without a workforce pool of qualified people that will actually show up to work consistently. If a community is not growing, it is withering.
I applaud the State of Georgia for at least beginning to address this situation and raising standards. It will not be easy to do but I think the teachers would be happy for this new challenge. After all, we all want our children to succeed. Raising our educational level will allow our kids to move around the country for jobs rather than being trapped by a system that does not empower them.
The Lone Horseman
