Crenshaw Holding the Line on Exit Exam - The Los Angeles Sentinel

Photo of the Week

click to enlarge Singer Keri Hilson, winner of Outstanding New Artist, poses in the Photo Gallery during the 41st NAACP Image awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on February 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Voted America's Number One African American Newspaper
2007-2008

America's Number One African American News Source

Thanks to all the voters who made the Sentinel the Number One Traditional African American Newspaper!

Mar 11, 2010 at 01:04 PM

Front Page

News

Local

Crenshaw Holding the Line on Exit Exam

Written by Kenneth Miller, (Managing Editor), on 06-11-2009 12:47

Favoured

These Crenshaw High School students did not meet the criteria for the CAHSEE and will not be permitted to participate in graduation ceremonies.

Jason Lewis for Sentinel

Crenshaw Holding The Line on Exit Exam
CAHSEE has parents, students fuming

By Kenneth Miller
Sentinel Managing Editor

In January 2009, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) issued a district-wide bulletin reinforcing an existing policy that students who did not pass the mandatory California High School Exit Examination
(CAHSEE) would not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies.
According to Sylvia Russo, Executive Director of the Greater Crenshaw Education Partnership, which includes the Los Angeles Urban League, students at Crenshaw High School have had four opportunities this year to take the CAHSEE.
Crenshaw, which earned back its Accreditation in November 2008 through 2010 has implemented a seventh period class that is designed to aid students with the CAHSEE so that they can graduate.
"We have focused more on substance instead of symbolism and the only students who will be allowed to participate without passing the exam are special education students," stated Russo.
Graduation for LAUSD schools is scheduled for June 17 but for a group of Crenshaw students and their parents, it will not be a celebratory moment.
These students have attended their proms and paid for sweat shirts that classified them as a member of the Crenshaw class of 2009, but they will not be participating in the graduation ceremony because they have failed on one or two portions of the mandatory CAHSEE.
Cashimier Smith, who has a 17-year old daughter that has been recruited to join the Navy is among those parents protesting on behalf of students who fell short of passing the exam.
"It's just not fair. My daughter has a 3.5 grade point average and has completed all of her required credits for graduation and she will not be able to walk," said a disgusted Smith.
Approximately half of the candidates for graduation at Crenshaw have not met CAHSEE requirements, according to parents.
Senior Destiny Worthy failed the test three time since the 11th grade, but says that all of the students did not know they had failed the test.
Worthy did admit, however, that she could have studied harder and limited her extra curriculum activities.
However, Kynyata Baker, another 17-year old Crenshaw senior also failed the test three times and only has a 2.0 grade point average still insist that the test is unfair.
As she wore her black sweat shirt as part of the '09 class package, it began to sink in that many of her peers would be participating in the ceremony without her.
An aspiring nurse, she had pledged to return to school in the summer to achieve a qualifying CAHSEE score.
Another student, Shalece White, passed English, but failed the math portion and her 2.6 grade point average is not enough to obtain her diploma.
Others such as 19-year old Wilson Mitchell who says that he has a 3.6 GPA, failed English and passed the math.
Patricia Clark, president and CFO of Brotherhood Crusade Business Development Capital Funds, defends the students right to participate in the graduation ceremony.
"These children have stayed at Crenshaw for four years through their accreditation crisis and have worked hard and deserve the opportunity to walk with their peers," Clark stated.
One of the concerns of the LAUSD is that in the past a high percentage of such students did not return in the summer to complete their GED, something that many of the students say will not happen to them.
The date of graduation is fast approaching, the many school memories already logged, but for those who did not pass CAHSEE, the district hard line stance will remain and earning their diploma will have to come a month later.

Last update: 06-11-2009 12:47

Published in : News, Local

Users' Comments (11)

Add your comment

Posted by Ignored and Unheard, on 06-12-2009 05:26,

Someone needs to evaluate these instructors who are suppose to be preparing these students for this exam; Then evaluate the administrators who are responsible for allowing these incompetent individuals to remain in these classrooms. Students will NEVER excel as long as teachers are refusing and/or unwilling to teach. When a disgruntled or ineffective educator is reported, teachers, administrators and counselors jump through hoops trying to dig up any negative information available in a students file to come up with a million reasons why your child is the sole reason for his/her failure. LAUSD is a joke! Their concern is strictly filling seats and test scores so that the state will not take over; and yes I heard that from the horses mouth. If a child does not comprehend something, a teacher is suppose to encourage, support, educate that child, not refuse to teach him/her while the school uses them as seat fillers for funding. Please be a little more responsible and start doing your job because you expect us as parents to do ours. It is a joint effort people. God Help Our Children...Please!!!

Posted by Michael Batie, on 06-16-2009 09:57,

Good for you administrators at CHS. If students cannot meet the minimum standards of the CAHSEE (8th Grade)then so be it. It is without question that CHS is in need of serious triage. Witness the CRIMINAL lack of achievement in mathematics. But the solution is not unleashing these students that fail this test. A final note, After reading all the online comments related to the Verb story, where is the online CHS community? Is this lack of online participation and commentary indicative of anything?

Posted by Wake up!, on 07-05-2009 16:43,

I am a volunteer parent in the LAUSD. We need to stop blaming teachers, schools, and everyone else when htese children don't succeed. These are our children! The school system did not have them, and the school system should not be expected to raise them. Everyday I see teachers trying to teach students who come to school with absolutely no intention to learn-no books, no backpack, no pen and paper, no supplies for class. But they do have ipods, the latest electrinic gear, and the latest styles of clothing. When teachers ask them to take off their headphones or put their phones or games away, the students get so belligerent! Teachers call the parents and the students come back to school the next day displaying the same behavior or even worse! The parents who come to school so defensive and argumentative have the worst kids! If they only knew how these students curse, disrespect, and defy authority. If you're angry because your child received all F's and the school didn't contact you, be angry at yourself! If you ask me, this is a reflection of the kind of communication and emphasis on education, or lack of, that takes place in your home. LAUSD is overcrowded. Some teachers and administrators need to be removed. But we cannot use that as an excuse for allowing our children to fail. Parents need to get involved. Why are only the parents of the well behaved, straight A students at Back to School Night? Where are the other parents? But the stands are full of parents for football and basketball games! What is that saying to your child about how important education is? Students missed school in May because they were trying to find the perfect prom dress! And their parents consented! Wake up, parents! We need to work together, not simply blame the schools. Does your living room have a flat screen, DVDs, x-box, and video games, but no computer? When is the last time you saw your child read a book or do homework? Think about it!

Posted by Michael Batie, on 07-06-2009 00:48,

Wow! Someone who speaks my language. But you say "Think about it!". What happens after you think about it? Do all parents, especially those parents of the badly behaved, know what to think? The question is, how do we garner their attention so that they are able to help their child, and maybe even themselves, understand the importance of education? Any ideas? I have some.

Posted by Response to Wake Up..., on 07-16-2009 03:42,

You are so ignorant and blind if you really believe yourself. The fact that you are a LAUSD volunteer would definitely explain your biased, stereotypical comments. Politics have taken over the classrooms. It is not about educating our youth as much as it is about ensuring job security and avoiding state oversight. You need to take time out of your schedule to watch or attend a LAUSD board meeting. Your opinion is definitely in the minority!!! Parents are responsible for enforcing and advocating the importance of an education because we set the foundation and provide guidance; but once a child enters school grounds, teachers are responsible for educating them because that is their job. You need to WAKE UP!!!

Posted by Michael Batie, on 07-16-2009 06:06,

Ooh! Such Fire. What you say may be true, but the fact remains that the majority of children entering the HS classrooms are NOT ready to learn. And dare I say that the majority of parents are NOT ready to lead.

Posted by Michael Batie, on 07-16-2009 06:10,

BTW WAKE UP!!!
Your comment dated 7-16 upon further examination was rather schizophrenic. On the one hand you say we need to stop blaming teachers, then you say politics has taken over the classrooms.

Can't settle on an issue?

Posted by Response to Wake Up, on 07-16-2009 20:20,

@ Michael Batie...Comments posted by two different individuals. 7/16 was a response to the post by Wake Up on 7/05! Was not directed towards you at all but thanks for the input!

Posted by Response to Wake Up, on 07-17-2009 03:01,

Most students are not ready for high school because they have not been properly prepared. Teachers are 'dumbing it down' as far as the curriculum goes and are focusing on teaching tests instead of providing a quality education! Parenting is only half the battle; schools/teachers need to be more accountable for their actions. You can not simply give someone an outdated textbook and expect them excel above and beyond what your definition of success is without actually INTERPRETING and TEACHING the material. If a child does not understand, ridiculing them is not going to encourage them to learn. Communicate with parents instead of assuming that everyone comes from an environment where being education is taboo! We want our children to succeed, not just make the school look good upon state evaluations. Teachers need to grade students based upon their actual knowledge and performance in a subject instead of letting their personal opinions of them and their socioecononomic status take precedence. Students are dropping out at an alarming rate because they feel that no one cares, no one listens and no one responds. There has been no resolution. You can not continue to antagonize these kids and Not expect them to respond at some point. You would be amazed at the things teachers say and do when they think no one is watching or listening. Don't be Disrespectful if you want to be Respected!!! Give a quality education and you will get quality results...period!!! Stop playing the blame game by rotating students throughout LAUSD and start reforming these schools/teachers and administrators. Too much competition amongst the district, charters, state and unions. What about the students? No Child Left Behind!!!

Posted by Wake Up, on 08-06-2009 14:49,

Ignorant, Biased and Stereotypical. Ignorant-Hardly! College educated, bachelor, masters, and working on a doctorate, but we are all ignorant of some things. The fact that I can judge things from a parent's perspective and from a school employee's perspective makes me UNBIASED. And stereotypes are formed when you judge without knowing. My comments reflect excatly the opposite. I have attended and viewed LAUSD board meetings. At the last one I heard from a young lady from Oaxaca, Mexico. She came the the US at 15, learned English in a year and a half, and graduated with a 3.75. I am African American and proud, but look at the picture above. I recently watched the Ben Carson story, a true story about how an illiterate, single, very poor African American mother with mental issues raised two sons, and one became a talented neurosurgeon. Too many of our children are failing and it seems like a majority of us are using the state of public education as an excuse to let them fail. I saw too many of our children faill this summer, not because the work was hard, or because the odds were stacked against them, but because they couldn't get to school on time, or they thought that they should get a passing grade for coming to summer school without doing any work, or because they went to the restroom and were gone for 45 minutes and came back smelling like weed. so when they fail during the school and don't even make an effort in summer school, where is the injustice? Who is depriving them? And what happens? The parents come to school and want to argue about it. I met some wonderful, focused, students and parents this summer. But there were too many horror stories. And I refuse to jump on the bandwagon and blame the system for everything. Mr. Batie, I have some ideas-better school/community/parent programs, parent workshops, what are yours? I look forward to hearing them. My kids have enough clothes and shoes. I'll be buying CAHSEE & SAT prep books and school supplies.

Posted by Response To Wake Up, on 08-11-2009 01:01,

Every situation and/or scenario does NOT apply to EVERY student. It is understandable that you feel the way you do being a LAUSD employee and a parent, you are entitled to your OPINION. The issues you have described may attribute to some failures but does NOT sum up this tragedy as a whole. Please share the ENTIRE story instead of providing us with half of the TRUTH. Are you saying that the reason every last one of these students are unsuccessful at attaining their short term goal of receiving a high school diploma because they are 45 minutes late for class, smoking marijuana in restrooms during breaks, or just sitting in class for a full school year and doing any work...None? Some of these students are graduating with above average GPA's but can not pass a 8th grade proficiency exam...why??? and the Injustice lies where??? What exactly are they learning? What exactly are these grades based upon? How competent/qualified are these teachers who are getting paid to educate/stagnate our children? School is NOT childcare for every parent! Many of us are actually RESPONSIBLE, WORKING, INTELLIGENT individuals and not drug addicts, alcoholics, gang affiliated or absent from the home. All of OUR children are NOT coming from households that you have described. Don't put everyone in a single category and expect positive input. What is your solution if you are not a part of the problem? You may have paid top dollar for an education but common sense is FREE. I don't care what type of credentials you have, still ignorant, biased and stereotyping...Period! You think just because you are African American that it is impossible... We are OUR own worst enemy! People like you turn a blind eye to the TRUTH instead of contributing to a positive cause. LAUSD is CORRUPT and so is your MIND...

Add your comment


View All Legends

The Bridge
Registration by Darryl James, (Columnist)

Poll