PORT ANGELES — Sure, Port Angeles High School’s freshman class still has its share of slackers — students who don’t put forth much academic effort.
But their numbers are shrinking.
That’s the assessment of Jackie Wilson, 14, a high school freshman and member of the class of 2008 — the first class required by the state to pass the reading, writing and math portions of the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning tests to graduate.
Wilson and classmates Victoria Zmuda, 15, and Matt Bensen, 14, sat down and spoke candidly about what it’s like being members of the first class under the weight of the new WASL rules.
Like thousands of high school freshman statewide, they are perfectly aware that the graduation rules for their class are stricter than for any in the past.
In the spring of 2006, they will be required to take the reading, writing and math portions of the WASL test.
If they fail a section, they’ll have three more attempts at passing it — or else they won’t graduate in 2008.
Student motivation
That fast-approaching hurdle has kindled a fire under some previously unmotivated fellow classmates, Wilson said.
“I know a lot of the sophomores, and they would try to slide by in the ninth-grade — just laying back, doing whatever and hanging out with their friends,” Wilson said.
“You see that now, that a lot of sophomores are doing that.
“But I think since the WASL is being integrated into our freshman class, we’re trying to push ourselves better.”
Zmuda, who until recently was enrolled at Choice Community School, agreed.
“More students are starting to show more effort in their classes instead of failing,” Zmuda said.
Bensen, a dedicated student who plans on someday getting a Ph.D. in physics, said he sees some classmates working harder — but only those who value their education.
“There are some kids who will stress out [because of the WASL tests],” Bensen said.
“But I think the kids who are most stressed out are those kids that actually care to pass it.
“I still see people just do nothing.”
