Superintendent Pleads for High Standards for His Kids

As I suspected, the State Board of Education did indeed pass both resolutions on Friday, one to look at the number of types of credits required for graduation, and the other study looking at the state's math curriculum.

I thought one of the most interesting bits of testimony from these meetings last week came from Rainier Houser, superintendent of the Ocean Beach School District near Astoria. He basically said that now, especially now, is not the time to start backpedaling on standards.

Pick a school in his district, and well over 60 percent are free and reduced lunch, Houser told the board members. He said that the WASL tests and the standards they have imposed have done much good, despite all the grousing about them now.

Despite the poverty his kids face, Houser noted with pride that 83 percent passed the 10th grade reading WASL, 81 percent the writing and 49 percent the math. So, okay, the math needs work. But Houser said that these standards are effective tools to "push, push, push" the kids. Yes, "we use them as a club," he said.

You can tell though, that in his heart, Houser wants the best for these kids. He doesn't want them to graduate and think that a $10 an hour job is the best they can do.