Education Policies Questioned

Kevin Hudson » Layout Editor

An organization devoted to brighter futures for American students, America’s Promise, established by Dr. Christopher B. Swanson, published a report in April 2008 that analyzed the graduation rates of students in the United States’ 50 largest cities.
          The report, using data from 2006, found that one out of every four students in Detroit graduated from their public high school (24.9 percent), and overall, 51.8 percent of students in the nation’s top 50 most populated cities will graduate. Compared to the national average, which is about 70 percent (Manhattan-Institute.org), these areas have a substantially lower percentage of graduates. Baltimore ranked in fourth place, with a graduation rate of 34.6 percent.
          The cause for such underachievement appears to be a chain reaction of events. But the fact is, three out of the top five cities with the lowest graduation rates are also considered in the top 25 of the most dangerous cities in the nation (City Crime Rankings, 14th Edition). In light of this reality, it is plausible to assume that students without proper educations will not receive high salaries. In fact, CNNMoney.com reports that in 2004 Americans with only a GED earn $20,000 less than those with college educations. This consequently forces them into a life of gangs and crime, which then leads to more children who lack an emphasis on education in the home.
          When two-thirds of Baltimore City students are subjected to this unforgiving cycle, the light of promise cannot shine through the dark clouds of insecurity. Not to mention, when crime, violence, and unemployment are major factors in the cycle, the political agenda of these areas may not be geared towards education as much as it should. For instance, Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon may be more concerned about assuaging unemployment, rather than enhancing the quality of education.
          As far as I am concerned, if Baltimore is to rebuild itself, it must have a competent workforce to lead it. Generally speaking, educated parents raise educated children, and while not all of them will go to college, at least they will have the resources to choose. Also, according to a report called Education and Correctional Populations by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, only 11.4% of prisoners in state prisons had postsecondary degrees. So by reforming the education system, Baltimore City can also alleviate and reduce the amount of crime and unemployment.
          In considerable contrast, Carroll County’s graduation rate in 2007 was 93.81 percent, and the crime level was (and still is) notably low, with about 4,000 arrests in 2000 compared to nearly 50,000 in Baltimore City (FedStats.gov). But a high graduation rate does not indicate that the education system in our county could not benefit from reform. The state government in nearly every American state / district controls the graduation requirements in every one of its counties. However, like in Maryland, when one area has a graduation rate of 34 percent and another has a graduation rate of 94 percent, something must change. Since the types of students are so regionalized, a single set of expectations is an impossible benchmark for some students and is an aspiration too easily achieved for others. When these expectations dwell at the bisector of the two levels, no one benefits.
           Every Maryland student should ideally be held at the same academic standard of achievement, and I would not condone lowering this paradigm or “dumbing down” Baltimore City education. However, I would recommend removing jurisdiction of the high school requirements from the state government, and give control to local boards of education, so that they can establish a standard based on the needs of the students they delegate.
          In this way, the particular board of education of an area can establish a closer care and evaluation of its students. So a district like Baltimore City could push its high schoolers towards goals that are reachable, by using programs tailored to their specific needs. And likewise, students in Carroll County should slowly ascend to a higher median of expectations, so that the unchallenged can be challenged. Thus, accountability and effectiveness in the school system is given new attention.
          Statistically, states with less state regulation over high school requirements tend to exhibit higher graduation rates. The state with the highest rate, Iowa, only has credit requirements in the major subject areas (not art, athletics, or foreign language). And the state with the second highest rate, North Dakota, has no statewide high school graduation requirements whatsoever. Number three, Wisconsin, has a system similar to Iowa, and number four, Nebraska has no requirements at all.