OGT News: Rep. Todd Book against Ohio Core graduation requirements
Governor Bob Taft's Ohio Core was not fully "thought out" before it became law last week, stiffening requirements for high school graduation in Ohio, according to state Rep. Todd Book, the assistant minority leader of the Ohio House.
This was the common complaint of the Democrats who voted against the legislation, hoping to stall its passage until Governor-elect Ted Strickland's team could review its fine points and develop their own version.
The McDermott Democrat (Book) told the Portsmouth Daily Times (link above) on December 28 why he's opposed to Ohio Core.
He's all for more rigorous graduation requirements in math, English and science, but feels high school might be too late for demanding that students get better prepared for the worlds of work and higher education. He said most learning is done at a much earlier age. He feels Ohio should look at toughening academic standards earlier in a student's school life.
Other points of the Ohio Core legislation that Book finds troubling is that it is an unfunded mandate that will tax already over-burdened school districts; that it is confusing since it is the second major overhaul of Ohio's high school curriculum standards in the last four years; and that it gives students who transfer into an Ohio school from out of state an unfair advantage over "home grown" students.
Ohio Core requires four years of high school math, English and a lab-based science before a student can graduate and attend a state university in Ohio. Students can "opt out" of Ohio Core graduation requirements, but only if they satisfy a set of alternate requirements. Ohio Core goes into effect with the class of 2014.
This was the common complaint of the Democrats who voted against the legislation, hoping to stall its passage until Governor-elect Ted Strickland's team could review its fine points and develop their own version.
The McDermott Democrat (Book) told the Portsmouth Daily Times (link above) on December 28 why he's opposed to Ohio Core.
He's all for more rigorous graduation requirements in math, English and science, but feels high school might be too late for demanding that students get better prepared for the worlds of work and higher education. He said most learning is done at a much earlier age. He feels Ohio should look at toughening academic standards earlier in a student's school life.
Other points of the Ohio Core legislation that Book finds troubling is that it is an unfunded mandate that will tax already over-burdened school districts; that it is confusing since it is the second major overhaul of Ohio's high school curriculum standards in the last four years; and that it gives students who transfer into an Ohio school from out of state an unfair advantage over "home grown" students.
Ohio Core requires four years of high school math, English and a lab-based science before a student can graduate and attend a state university in Ohio. Students can "opt out" of Ohio Core graduation requirements, but only if they satisfy a set of alternate requirements. Ohio Core goes into effect with the class of 2014.
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