Summary of recent Kentucky newspaper editorials:
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Oct. 13
The News-Enterprise on the Kentucky Department of Education approving recommended changes to the state’s minimum standards and requirements for high school graduation:
Every engaged and caring parent looks forward to the many significant milestones in the lives of their children. A toddler’s first steps, a “momma” or “daddy” first spoken, that first day of school. Each of these events are important markers.
These and others are celebrated in bittersweet manner, both for the accomplishment each signifies in the child’s life, but also in recognition of the fleeting nature of our time with them.
Among all these none is arguably as celebrated as a young person’s graduation from high school.
The pageantry of walking a stage in cap and gown to receive one’s diploma signifies passage into a new chapter of life.
For the graduate, it closes the doorway of childhood and opens a new, broader path toward the pursuit of dreams of adulthood.
For parents, along with all the cheers and pride-swollen tears, there also comes a lingering whispered question that keeps one up at night. Is our precious son or daughter really prepared for the challenges lying in wait around the corner? Are they ready and able to tackle the obstacles that will stand in way of a fulfilled and life of self-sufficiency?
With this question in mind, the Kentucky Department of Education unanimously approved recommended changes to the state’s minimum standards and requirements for high school graduation. Following its Oct. 3 decision, the new requirements are now under a 30-day public comment period.
A final decision will be made following the input period so this is the time to speak out.
As part of the new requirements for graduation, a student in the Class of 2023 will have to pass reading and math tests in their sophomore year and prove they’re college or career ready.
Academic preparedness will be based on achieving benchmark scores on a college entrance exam, receive at least a B average in six hours of dual-credit courses and earn minimum scores on completion exams for two advance placement or international baccalaureate classes.
Career preparedness will be determined by achieving a benchmark score on an industry certification or career and technical end-of-program assessment, completion of a trade apprenticeship, or receive a B average in six hours of career and technical dual-credit courses.
The 22-credit minimum requirement for graduation will be split between foundational and personalized courses of study. Four English classes still will be required for graduation, but two of the courses can be aligned with the student’s interests.
While the state’s graduation rate of almost 90 percent stands among the highest across the country, this success indicator hasn’t carried over into the university or career setting for these graduates.
Only 65.6 percent of Class of 2017 graduates met minimum requirements to be considered college or career ready. Of Class of 2015 graduates, slightly more than half were actively enrolled in a college or university after graduation. Less than 31 percent of 2010 graduates earned a career or trade certification by 2017.
These concerning statistics do not support proof our young people are fully prepared and ready for the real world.
It is important Kentucky makes marked improvement in preparing its high school graduates for successful futures.
At the same time, larger questions remain.
Where will the new requirements for reading and mathematics examinations and restructuring graduation requirements leave the individual student?
Will these new tests and standards result in yet another scoreboard of school district competency comparison?
Will they result in better educated, trained and competitive students for a future workforce or just another round of test-teaching pulling away an educator’s time, focus and creativity?
After spending 13 years within an organized and structured school environment, students, with no diploma in hand, cannot be left to emerge with a new stigma with which to contend.
It isn’t likely many struggling 18 year olds will return to school for the remedial work that will otherwise be necessary.
Kentucky must do all it can to avoid a new system that doubles-down on the student and fails them again by turning them out into a world underprepared.
Online: http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/
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Oct. 14
The Independent Of Ashland on the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi:
Here in Eastern Kentucky we state the obvious in saying we don’t find ourselves writing too much about Saudi Arabia on our editorial page.
Today, however, it is necessary in light of the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. There is growing concern Khashoggi, a regular critic of the Saudi Arabian royal family, may have been murdered after being lured into the Saudi embassy in Turkey.
As this editorial is being written, it is not known exactly happened. It certainly looks bad though. Lindsey Graham told Al Jazeera he has seen US intelligence and it points to Saudi involvement. The Washington Post said US intelligence intercepted communications indicating Saudi officials planned to abduct Khashoggi.
We hope the presumption that Khashoggi was slain turns out to be incorrect. Politico has reported that national security adviser John Bolton is committed to finding out what happened and President Donald Trump said violence against journalists is simply unacceptable.
Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally of the United States. There are very close, long-running ties. In 2017, according to media reports, the US and Saudi Arabia locked in a weapons deal worth $110 billion. There are also extensive business investments that flow back and forth between the two. Saudi Arabia, for example, is heavily invested in Silicon Valley. But in light of growing concern over Khashoggi’s disappearance, there is a tide of outrage over the idea that the Saudi Arabian government was involved in his vanishing.
Do we know exactly what happened? No. The facts have to be vetted. If the worst case scenario presented - that Khashoggi was the target of violence because he expressed his opinion - there absolutely has to be consequences. Significant ones.
The United States is a leader of the free world. With this comes responsibility, and the nation always has to prioritize human rights and the ability of people to participate in the marketplace of ideas without being murdered. We expect the same of our allies and the nations we have committed to as allies.
The entire situation requires one of two scenarios to unfold: one, an explanation of what happened and the return of Khashoggi to his family, or, two, a pursuit of justice in which the entire world, led by the United States, makes clear violence against journalists is never tolerated.
Online: http://www.dailyindependent.com
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Oct. 14
The Daily News of Bowling Green on Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court:
We are very proud that Justice Brett Kavanaugh is the newest member of the U.S. Supreme Court.
As we’ve said several times, we believe he was an excellent nominee by President Donald Trump for the nation’s top court. One only has to look at his judicial record to determine the caliber of judge he will be. Kavanaugh was, sadly, a victim of character assassination in the sexual misconduct claims from 36 years ago during his confirmation hearings - claims that turned out not to be corroborated by anyone. These uncorroborated claims had to be very tough for Kavanaugh, but also for his wife and two young daughters.
At any time, Kavanaugh could’ve said, “This is too much,” and withdrawn his name as a nominee. But he stated emphatically that he was innocent of these charges, and he dug in and fought these unsubstantiated allegations. Many people said he was guilty simply by accusation. This is not how our legal system works. We know that, Kavanaugh knows that and most fair-minded Americans know that. But sadly, due to politics, others apparently do not.
What kind of message would it have sent if Kavanaugh withdrew his name? To some, it would’ve indicated that he did something wrong, which was the wrong message to send to those senators trying to destroy him.
We couldn’t be any more proud of Kavanaugh for staying the course and defending his name, his family’s name and his good reputation. Even in his darkest hours when he was a victim of guilt by accusation, he never hesitated or wavered in his determination to proclaim his innocence.
We also couldn’t be more proud of Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Through this whole nasty process, they never wavered in their support for Kavanaugh. When the heat got too hot, they could’ve easily asked Kavanaugh to step aside and chosen to go with another nominee they thought could’ve gotten through. But no, they backed their guy 110 percent. Not once did they put their finger in the air to see which way the political winds were blowing. Like Kavanaugh, they dug in their heels and fought every day for Trump’s nomination to be voted on and, in the end, confirmed.
Our hats go off to these two gentlemen and the majority of Republican senators and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia for voting to confirm Kavanaugh.
In the 2016 election, we were one of only about 10 daily newspapers in the country to endorse Trump for president. Our main reasoning was because of the Supreme Court justices he would appoint compared to Hillary Clinton. We believed Trump would appoint those who listen to cases and rule on the law, not on ideology, and Trump hasn’t disappointed us in that regard.
We are proud of that endorsement and proud that Trump has nominated and gotten through the Senate two well-respected justices in less than two years in office. Kavanaugh will be a fine addition to the high court. We are extremely proud of him for staying steadfast during one of the dirtiest confirmation processes in recent memory, and we are proud of Trump, McConnell and company for remaining steadfast as well in helping ensure this fine man was put where he belongs on the nation’s high court.
Online: https://www.bgdailynews.com/
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