Please Stop the ACT Race

According to an article in today's Chicago Tribune this year's ACT scores for Illinois high school students did not improve for the Class of 2015. In fact, the writing scores actually declined. The article states that "Only 26 percent of high school graduates scored high enough on all four of the main subjects to be considered prepared for college, the same as last year."

Only 75 - 80% of high school aged students take the ACT in Illinois. Most who do take it take it during their Junior year.

The public school system in Illinois has to accept every single student. They have to accept those with IQs of 50 and 150 equally. Anyone who knows the standard bell curve concept can clearly understand that only some students would be expected to have abilities that could lead them to college. Other studies I have read have claimed that only about 10% of gifted students are still in the public schools - leading me to the conclusion that the public schools are "bottom heavy" as far as the bell curve is concerned.

Also, only a small number of students need to go to college. If you need a college degree to do the job you want to do then it is worth the cost (in both years spent attending classes and financially). Many high school students have no idea what they want to do though or want a job that they don't need a college degree for.

All this said, how can we be upset that only 26% of public high school students are prepared for college? Shouldn't we be preparing every single student for real life and not only for the next four years of a life many of them shouldn't really be considering anyway?

Only a small number of students need Algebra II. 100% need is far better Consumer Math so they can understand interest only mortgages and how credit cards actually work.

Only a small number of students need to be able to write a 20 page research paper. 100% need to be able to write a clear and concise memo and email.

Only a small number of students need to memorize the Krebs cycle. 100% need to be able to understand human disease (as well as mental illness) well enough to understand what their doctor is telling them about their loved one.

Only a small number of students need to memorize the Declaration of Independence. 100% need to understand our current legal system and laws.

We have failed several generations trying to aim for college at the exclusion of everything else. Please stop the great ACT race.