A meeting of many minds took place at the Westlock Library last Friday as Grade 12 students had a sit-down discussion with Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Maureen Kubinec about diploma exams.
Not only were students involved in the discussion, but so were R.F. Staples staff, Pembina Hills school division Supt. Colleen Symyrozum-Watt, trustee Jan Hoffart and several parents.
The meeting was the idea of parent Lisa Siegle, who said she wanted to give the students a chance to voice their own opinions on the exams, which are a major part of their Grade 12 year.
“It’s important for students to have their voices heard by the MLA,” she said.
She explained she asked the Grade 12s to take part in the discussion because the diploma exams are still fresh in their minds — having recently completed round one — and would have their own experiences preparing for and writing the exams to pass along.
Although many issues surrounding the exams were brought up during the nearly 90-minute discussion, the majority of the comments dealt with the purpose the exams serve, and the fact the exams are worth 50 per cent of a student’s grade for the year.
Parent Liz Gurnett, who will see her third child graduate this June, said while she feels the exams are “fantastic,” felt the fact the exams are worth half a student’s grade is out of proportion with how much time they take up vis ŕ vis the rest of the school year.
She explained the teachers do a good job teaching throughout the entire year, but then the students write one exam that takes about two hours that carries weight equal to the rest of the year.
Gurnett proposed the exams be reduced in importance to no more than 25 per cent of a student’s overall grade.
Student Honey Tkachyk echoed Gurnett’s sentiment about reducing the emphasis on the exams, suggesting 20 per cent would be ideal.
She also suggested the exams stop the move towards more multiple choice and retain or increase the amount of written responses.
Teacher Perry Kulmatyski defended the exams, explaining how they have merit and a place in the Alberta education system.
He stressed their purpose is to bring a sense of accountability and uniformity to the marks students receive, especially when it comes to the marks universities are looking at. The general idea is that a grade a student receives in one community means the same as it does in another, he said.
At the end of the discussion, Siegle encouraged the students and their parents to write to education minister Jeff Johnson with their thoughts on the exams.
“Let’s not be quiet,” she said.
