While the educational system of the commonwealth may wish to continue passing students and promoting them grade by grade based on attendance only, it is an indefensible practice for unqualified "teachers."

Can we begin the reform by having all elected and appointed government officials pass the MCAS? Ayone have a problem with that? Shouldn't our rulers abide by the same rules as the ruled?

Young teachers are leaving and lives are being ruined because the right wing pressured pols by downgrading the public school system for the last twenty years.They want ours schools to be more like Japan and Europe but not our political system.

I repeat...let's give the MCAS to Deval, Mumbles, Sal et al . All those in favor? Barbara? V? Everyman?

I'm all for that Mr. X. This is squarely at the feet of the union. Extortion in the name of the children is fine, just don't ask me to pass a test, right?

V! Must you be so consumed with your Republican elitism and continue to jump up and down on the unions whose ranks have been depleted from over 40% of the work force in the 1950's (The Glorious Fifties that R's worship) to 11% today? It was your dear old friend Bill Weld and Charly "The Annointed One" Baker and his cohorts from the Pioneer Institute who gave us the Education Reform Act of 1993...talk about BIG GOVERNMKNENT! Oh, and then there's that nasty thing called "increasing drop out rates" to over 40% in the cities! But hey V and the rest of the R's live in their gated communities and occasionally let us go to a sporting event and throw us a few crumbs. Oh, thank you my rulers, is there anything else I can do for you today?

From 1789 until 1993 this commonwealth had no MCAS and we did pretty well with grades. time to have real reform and someone, anyone on Beacon Hill to grow some real stones and lead on this issue. This latest cowtow to the usual suspects is beyond belief.

I suppose that you think Charter Schools are a bad idea Mr. X? I'm an unenrolled voter Mr. X, not a republican.

And...not that you ever let facts get in the way, but the drop out rate in MA is hovering around 3.8% (06-07). That's an astonishing 11,200 students. So I'm guessing that your math to get 40% just doesn't work.

And 18% of those students (roughly 2,000) had already passed the MCAS.

Face it Mr. X...even in your communist utopia, there will always be some slackers; some kids who feel they need to work because of family economic situations; or people who just disappear from the rolls. I'm wondering how many of these dropouts are illegal aliens.

Do I think the Education Reform Act was a good idea? Not especially. But as a business owner, I think I should be able to expect that people who graduate and come into the work force are prepared and literate.

As a parent of a child in public school, I should expect that the teachers can pass a certification test. I should also be able to expect that my child would not be indoctrinated with global warming, pro-homosexual marriage, liberal/communist ideology.

Here’s a snippet for you “MERA included significant changes in the way schools and districts are run. School Committees’ power over personnel issues was reduced, with superintendents and principals given more authority. All schools were to have School Councils composed of parents, teachers, students, and administrators. Enhancing Educator Quality. A portion of state aid to local districts was earmarked for teacher professional development. Teacher licensure has been revised, and teacher tests for new teachers have been instituted. Ensuring Readiness to Learn Through Early Childhood Education Programs. Between 1996 and 1999, spending on early childhood education increased by 247 percent. Implementing Choice and Charter Schools. MERA expanded inter-district choice and authorized the state to approve charter schools—public schools exempt from local control and union contracts."

Go back to reading your MTA talking points X-man.

Will the real "Christy" please stand up?

V...it was documented last week in THE BOSTON GLOBE that Boston's (not Ma.) graduation rate was 57%...Charter Schools are run by R's mostly but some D's insiders who are making money by not paying union wages to the workers...the have made very little difference it's just "piratization" Chisty has it right again (above) as usual. 2010 can't get here soon enough!

I don't know Mr. X......the DOE stats seem to differ quite a bit from the Associated Press/Globe stats. According to the DOE web site, Boston had 1,659 dropouts in 2006-2007 out of 18,585 students. That's a little under 9% Mr. X. NOT the 40% you believe. What does your beloved MTA say about that?

Do I think it is sad? Yes. Do I think it is an epidemic? No.

Unions Mr. X.....where else can you go with a high school education and extort six figures from the taxpayer?

Christy, as usual, has no idea what he is talking about.

Will the REAL Christy please stand up?

The MADOE statistics (which I believe would be much more reliable) seem to differ quite a bit from what the AP reported in the Globe Mr. X.

In 2006-2007, Boston had 1,659 Dropouts out of 18,585 enrolled high school students. That's a little under 9% (granted I'm using public school math here). Not quite the epidemic you think it is.

Unions......where else can you go with a high school education and extort 6 figures from the taxpayer?

Christy, as usual, has no idea what he is talking about.

Will the REAL Christy please stand up?

V! I stand by the Boston Globe story, they have different methods of calculating the drop out rate. I believe DOE doesn't count a student as dropping out until she (of course it's usually he) hasn't finished within somthing like 15-30 years after your class graduates...your friends V at DOE

Oh come on Mr. X. Even you can't possibly believe that.

Just a little hyperbole but it's the DOE that's making up the numbers...