Article Published: October 9, 2005

A word of praise is overdue for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, who has stood fast on the need for high school exit exams despite pressure from his fellow Democrats, who, predictably, favor a feel-good approach.

O'Connell says the state must stand on principle, and not cave in to notions that there is an easier way out than exit exams. How could any politician believe otherwise?

But they say they do. One proposal, AB 1531, would put an end to exit exams.

Some states allow alternatives to exams, including so-called "portfolios" created by students to illustrate why they should receive a diploma when they haven't mastered the basics. But a "portfolio" is not the equivalent of an exam.

The problem with a high school giving even a single diploma to a student who successfully completed the minimum requirements is that thereafter it's impossible to know which diplomas from that school are valid, and which are fake. A certificate of completion is a better choice, and California law already allows for it.

O'Connell says this doesn't mean that students who fail the exit exams, even after several tries, should just be dumped. Other paths remain: summer school, another year in high school or extended study in a community college. He remains open to those and other possibilities.

Time and again politicians excuse positions that don't square with their principles as simply the requirements of party politics. Nuts to that. O'Connell didn't back down, and neither should they.

Correction: In an editorial published Oct. 4, we misinterpreted Superintendent O'Connell's position as wobbling on the basic principle of maintaining high school exit exams, which was incorrect, and for which we apologize.)

Copyright 2005 -- Press-Telegram