In the state of California, a judge made a ruling giving tens of thousands of students the opportunity to graduate, despite whether they passed their state exam or not. This ruling has caused much controversy, but, personally, I just don’t think they shouldn’t graduate without passing the exam.
   First of all, what is the purpose of having an exam when it doesn’t even matter if students pass or fail? It only convinces them that life is always going to go their way, which is a false understatement.  Students should be motivated to pass the test because it used to determine whether he gets a diploma or not. If they don’t care about it, that’s his problem. In addition, the school district should not feel obligated to reward students for flunking the exam, but yet we see more and more of this every day. In my opinion, students should get what they deserve.
   Tests such as this one usually benefit a student throughout his life. Test teaches students basic skills and abilities needed to become successful, even if they are not planning to attend college. Almost all jobs require some knowledge of basic math and science. In addition, similar tests teach some English and grammar skills needed to communicate with people, apply for a job, and invest in something.
   According to Jim Lehrer, approximately 90% of the concepts on the exam are taught in middle school. Tests are not taken until tenth grade, which gives the students their entire ninth grade year to try to learn what they should have learned years prior.
   In preparation for this exam, students are given a study guide booklet for the exam months before they actually take it. In addition, they can retake it in their junior and senior years. If they still can’t pass it after all that, I don’t believe they deserve to graduate. If students don’t care about anything that can help them all through life, then they will not care about anything else that happens in their lives.
  The last thing we need in the United States is a menace to our weakening economy. It sounds harsh, but I have a firm belief that students who do not try should not be rewarded for something they did not do. In addition, all parents should support a child doing well in school and discourage lack thereof. According to statistics, one of the number-one reasons why students do not do well in school is because parents do not do well at home.
   People shouldn’t waste their time or money trying to find pointless methods in the hope that students will pass. Students should be encouraged to pass, but ultimately, it’s their choice whether or not they do so. Senseless methods such as this only tell a student that life will be easy, which is completely false.
   California Judge Freedman’s ruling was unbelievable to me. After all, if students want a diploma, it shouldn’t be given to them. It should be worked for and earned.