No More Mr. Nice Guy!

Aimless and clueless

The state of education in Arizona has been absolutely dismal for as long as I can remember. Up to a few years ago, students could graduate from high school without being required to demonstrate that they had learned anything at all during their years in school.

Eventually, Arizona introduced the AIMS test as a requirement for graduation. The results were abysmal, with tens of thousands of students failing. So how did the educational authorities respond? By raising standards? No, by repeatedly dumbing down the test to the point where anyone who wasn't suffering from terminal brain death could pass it.

Unfortunately, that still leaves many students - 6,000 this year - unable to graduate. So now the legislature, in its infinite wisdom, is considering a measure to allow students who have failed the test to graduate. Thus destroying the last vestige of the test's relevancy. Why not abolish the damn thing and be done with it?

"I'm not really good at math," said Cami, 18, who was on hand for Tuesday's Senate vote. "I feel like I'm being penalized for something I'm not good at."

Ohmygod, like it's totally not fair to not give me a diploma just because I didn't like learn anything! Sheesh! How does this Scottsdale princess expect to get through life if she can't even count the change in her designer purse when she goes to the mall?

Is anyone surprised that Arizona ranks as the dumbest state in the union? Or that all the good jobs have gone overseas?