To help “non-white” high-school students, Oregon governor removes reading, writing and maths for them

In a move to help “non-white” high-school students, Oregon governor Kate Brown removes reading, writing, and maths for high-school students.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown discreetly signed Senate Bill 744 into law last month, effectively eliminating the mandate for high school students to demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and arithmetic before graduating.

Governor Brown, a Democrat, opted for a low-key approach to the signing, without a public ceremony or press release, a departure from the norm, as reported by the Oregonian. Notably, the bill was added to the state’s legislative database more than two weeks after signing, which was attributed to a staffer’s medical issues within Secretary of the Senate Lori Brocker’s office, responsible for database updates.

The bill, suspending proficiency requirements for three years, has stirred controversy for temporarily suspending academic standards amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Advocates argued that the existing proficiency standards for math and reading created an unfair burden for students who struggle with standardized tests. Governor Brown’s office emphasized that the new graduation standards would benefit Oregon’s diverse student population.

The pandemic originally prompted the removal of the proficiency requirement in March 2020 through Governor Brown’s Stay Home, Save Lives order. Democrats supported this executive order, asserting that the existing educational standards were flawed.

However, critics, including House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, expressed concerns that the bill lowered academic standards, potentially impacting students negatively. Nonetheless, the measure garnered some bipartisan support, with Republican state Rep. Gordon Smith voting in favor. The state House approved the bill with a 38-18 vote on June 14, while the state Senate passed it 16-13 on June 16.

It’s important to note that Senate Bill 744 does not eliminate Oregon’s graduation requirements, nor does it remove the obligation for students to acquire essential skills. According to Charles Boyle, a spokesman for the governor, it is misleading to equate standardized testing with graduation requirements. The bill provides an opportunity to review and update graduation standards, with recommendations due to the Legislature and Oregon Board of Education by September 2022.

https://x.com/Travis_in_Flint/status/1701985297645342885?s=20

Comments that it was a racist move were running wild on Twitter.

Michael Wilson
@sirmichaelwill
·
13h
“Ummmm is this just literal racism?”
🇺🇸Travis🇺🇸
@Travis_in_Flint
·
13h
“Very blatant”
Emilio Ruiz
@EmilioRuizFl
·
13h
“Is this for real? If yes, this person needs to be impeached asap. She’s a threat to our country and our children.
This makes no sense at all.”
🇺🇸Travis🇺🇸
@Travis_in_Flint
·
13h
“It is indeed real”

https://x.com/Travis_in_Flint/status/1701985297645342885?s=20

But it does seem an easy run for Indians who from pre-school are loaded with books they can barely carry!