News today out of Concord follows other press releases and data we've seen in the last few months from the NH Department of Education... Often the majority of children tested have failed to meet or exceed required achievement levels for their grade.

Today's released results are no different. A pilot program for a new test called PACE (Performance Assessment of Competency Education), testing only four NH schools, merely confirmed previous statewide tests. Our students are not getting properly prepared for life in our public schools.

To articulate the dimensions of the problem, today's results showed that only 48% of tested students (grades 3-8 and 11) meet or exceed Achievement Levels in English Language Arts, and only 44% made the grade in Mathematics.

That's a problem folks! In 20 years these young people will be middle management in our nation's government, industries and militaries. How can we hope to maintain our nation's safety or leadership in the world?

It's interesting to note that the study also tracked performance based on race. With a 1% difference, white kids almost exactly matched the averages. Asian kids however, performed almost 20% better.

If our military's 'Pivot to Asia' is going to bring any lasting peace or security we better learn a few lessons from the Asian parents among us, but f-a-s-t!

Call your state legislator and ask them 'What the heck is going on and how are we going to fix it?'

Just between you and me ~ I don't think the problem is predominately with our educators. I suspect much of it rests with our parenting skills/habits/customs. Have you ever seen an Asian kid glued to a TV set, GameBoy or cell phone?

I didn't think so.

~ Publisher


► PACE Explained
► PACE Results (Excel file)