Opinion: The PSAE is vital to education

Juniors grumbled over the PSAE. On the surface it all seems a little pointless, even pitiful… two days of taking tests, then getting out at noon, but that’s just the surface.

Unlike the SAT, the PSAE was not created in back rooms by conniving capitalists. Rather, it was created by cynical educators who have every reason to be cynical.

The high school education system would be corrupt, sorry, I mean uncontrollably corrupt without the PSAE.

According to an article in the Daily Herald last fall, just 21 percent of Illinois seniors graduate ready for college or the workplace. That’s 79 percent who don’t have the basic skills like science, algebra, reading, and writing to go to college or even get a job.

Even though the state legislature is in a bind on how to actually fix the problem (trying and failing with the lottery, bans on soda, and a moment of silence) the fact that the problem can be recognized is a start, and the PSAE recognizes the problem.

Maybe the state should take U-High as an example where the opposite is true. An average of 84 percent of students met and exceeded standards on all sections of the PSAE last year. 

So why do we still have to take the dumb test? There are two answers to that question.

The first is that it’s the only real way for U-High to check your progress. A school development committee compares scores since you first took the Explorer your freshman year, then the PLAN your sophomore year, and finally the PSAE your junior year. From that information, each department looks at what they could do better for the next year.

It’s a lot better to waste two days taking tests, then to waste four years pretending to learn.

The second, (if you want the more cynical and bigoted answer) since many U-High students are interested in doing the best they possibly can, it’s another way for capitalist to get their money. Millions of dollars every year are put into ACT prep courses, booklets, tutors, counselors and stress.

Whatever answer you choose, it almost seems selfish to complain when you consider the number of students who don’t learn the basics like math, reading and writing and then graduate unable to go to college or get a job.