When Do I Use a Semicolon?

The study was released by the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago, and was prompted by the fact that Elgin Community College had entering freshmen that were struggling to meet the academic bar. They’re not alone—across the nation, one-third of freshmen taking classes at a community college were in remedial courses.

According to the researcher Elaine Allensworth, the battle to prepare students for what lies ahead in college has to start at the high school level. It’s not enough to let them come to class and pass their state mandated tests, students need to apply themselves and keep good grades. Those who maintain ‘A’ and ‘B’ averages throughout their high school years are more likely to do well in the college environment. Those who simply passed through high school are the ones struggling.

What this amounts to is that teachers need to stop teaching students to pass these state tests and instead, develop their critical thinking skills. By enhancing a student’s overall education, they’ll be ready for college courses that challenge them on a daily basis.

Do you think states should impose these tests? Do they detract from the actual learning that a student receives, or do you think they help? What steps have you taken to make sure your child is ready for college? [Courier News]