Earlier this year, Gov. Jim Doyle, during his State of the State address, proposed that a program be put into place that would guarantee eighth-grade students who get a “B” or better admittance into any UW school of their choice and any financial aid help that they may need if the Pell Grant isn’t enough to cover their tuition.

Doyle signed the Wisconsin Covenant Bill about two weeks ago, on Sept. 6. The spring 2007 eighth-grade graduating classes will be the first group to have the opportunity (or the burden) of being Covenant Scholars. Sounds like a good plan, right?

But predictably, there is a catch. These students must sign a pledge promising to continue getting grades averaging a B or better throughout high school, take college prep courses and promise to live a clean life. This is noble, but difficult. Half of the people that I knew in eighth grade who had an average of a “B” or better ended up on the opposite end of the spectrum by the end of their freshman year of high school.

Those who do manage to stay on top now have a whole new batch of things to worry about. Our educational standards are pretty low in this state, but the transition from middle school to high school is still a big one, and initially it can be pretty overwhelming.

I knew “A” students who broke into tears in the hallway because they ended up with a “C” in a class.

Now, imagine that “A” student (now with a shiny “C”), who has signed up on Doyle’s Pledge Plan. I don’t think tears will be enough on that one; I’m thinking Jack or Mary Jane. Except for the fact that these are just more ways to break a deal with the good governor, assuming his “Thought Police” are keeping a close eye on everyone who signs the pledge.

What about those students who did poorly in middle school and are finding their niche in high school? Since the program applies only to eighth graders, the students who are probably most deserving of such a great deal are the ones who are going to be left behind. All because somebody whispered into someone else’s ear that it was better to stick them with the pledge before high school. (Kind of a cheat if you ask me, I might add. How many eighth graders do you know who drink or smoke?)

Granted, I have seen people get consistently good grades throughout their academic careers. It ranks up there with Bigfoot sightings, but it does happen. Anyway, those students don’t really have much to worry about because their grades will be enough to not only guarantee them acceptance into the school of their choice, but also a grab bag of scholarships and grants.

If the good people at the Capitol want to fix the mistakes they’ve been making with Wisconsin educational standards for the past however many years, this is not the way to go about it.

The only thing that I can guarantee will come out of it is a bunch of stressed-out honor students who have taken to cutting to avoid breaking their pledge, former honor students who now spend most of their time on their back giggling at the pretty colors or a bunch of pissed off current honor students who got screwed out of the opportunity to ensure their educational future.

Instead of narrowing the list of candidates down to eighth graders, how about giving everybody a chance?

> Comments