<p>a continuation and extension of the earlier Civics Test discussion</p>
<p>
[quote]
Even more disturbing are reports that reading competency and comprehension are declining among college graduates — as if there should be any question about the reading skills of people with college degrees.
[/quote]
It's the university's job to teach remedial reading?!?!?!</p>
<p>Part of the reason graduation rates are dropping, IMHO, is that high school students are practically shoved into college. My high school boasted that almost every graduate went on to a four year college, yet barely half could pass the English EOC (you don't even want to know the science EOC scores). College opens up doors for people, but it isn't for everyone, and high schools are practically shoving college admissions down the throats of those who really aren't prepared for it. No wonder they flunk out. Community college is a perfectly viable alternative, but too many students view that as shameful and are determined to get into a four year college.</p>
<p>In any event, I would strongly oppose federal government regulation of higher education ciriculums, no matter how well-intentioned. Like the Texas state law that requires that public colleges mandate courses in 'State and Local Government.' But such propositions may all be about money, which some people suspect is a major impetus behind NCLB.</p>
<p>What is EOC?</p>
<p>From 3-8th grade, you take the EOGs (end of grade exam). In high school, you take the EOCs (end of course exam). They're state-wide standardized exams in NC.</p>
<p>The notion that colleges and universities should be responsible for their students' knowledge of civics is absurd. The last civics class our S took was a required course in 9th grade. He is an engineering major. I doubt very much that he will be required to take a single course that is remotely akin to civics. Nor should he, given the breadth of the subject matter for his major and the other possibilities for his distribution requirements (anthropology? art history?)</p>
<p>I think he'd probably do just fine on the Civics Test, but that would be because he pays attention to current events and reads editorial opinions and is interested. But that's not because of anything that his university is requiring of him.</p>
<p>Maybe the concern would better be that students aren't sufficiently engaged in politics, or keeping abreast of news, or just paying attention to the world around them. But to blame the universities???? Ridiculous.</p>
<p>In February 2006, Doug Lederman wrote in Inside Higher Ed that the "push for higher education accountability is hardly new" and explained why and how this push accelerated after NCLB. His article is aptly titled "No</a> College Left Behind."</p>