Seen and Heard

Politicians, parents, and educators—they've all opined about school improvement. Now it's the kids' turn.

By Antonia Lewandowski

The current conversation about successful schools and optimal learning is one-sided. Why does student achievement lag so far behind our expectations? If we listen to school boards, politicians, government officials, newspaper columnists, and others, we hear strong opinions on what schools and teachers need to do better. But we seldom hear from perhaps the most important group, one that has yet to be seriously challenged to take part in the debate: students themselves.

How is this possible? Not long ago, I was on hand when a county school official, while meeting with students, was asked whether the district could provide an alternative to the required state exams for students who can’t pass them by the end of their senior year. In their eyes, the exams were an unfair barrier to graduation.

The official explained that there was not a good alternative to the tests but that administrators and teachers had an obligation to ensure that every student...