Our Viewpoint
Board missed point

We would like to congratulate the Jasper High School graduates of 2007 Once again, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Monday evening, the Jasper Independent School Board of Trustees changed their policy and bowed to pressure by angry parents by amending its commencement exercises to allow students who have not passed all aspects of the TAKS tests to walk with their graduating class.

By a vote of 4-3, board members elected to allow these students to walk with their class during commencement exercises May 25 even though they have not met the state-mandated requirements for graduation.

In the past, students who didn't pass TAKS were not allowed to walk with their class until they completed this requirement.

Let's face it; TAKS is not a popular idea to begin with. But until that change is done, it is the law of the school land. Period.

Standardized testing was set in place to make sure that students in Dallas and Houston were being taught the same as students in Woodville and Jasper. All high school students throughout the state have to pass the TAKS in order to graduate.

Our concern is what message did Monday's decision send to the majority of the 2007 senior class that passed the TAKS.

More than that, what about the fifth and seventh grader who failed a portion of their TAKS?

Letting these students participate in their graduation is just ceremonial. It doesn't solve the real issue and that is why are these students failing their TAKS to begin with.

That's the issue the board should have addressed Monday night.

Roses go to….

t Jasper's baseball squad who defeated LaGrange in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.

t For all those who are utilizing the Keep Jasper Beautiful recycling trailer monthly.

Thorns go to….

t Voter apathy. Once again, a small minority dictated the leadership of the Jasper.

t The person or persons who stole an antique saddle after the Jasper Lions Club Rodeo parade. The saddle means more to the people it was stolen from than it is possibly worth. Return it.