18 March 2016

Governor Tom Wolf

508 Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Dear Governor Tom Wolf:
I am Moriah Whiteman and a high school student who is writing you concerning the
Keystone tests in which all high school students have to pass to graduate high school. The
Keystone tests should not be required to graduate due to many factors that go into passing the
evaluations: quality of teacher, student health, student testing ability, and evaluations are not
synonymous across the country. There would be an excessive amount of stress on both teacher
and student which leads to teachers teaching the tests rather than the complete course.
More than anything else, school officials argue that the Keystone tests are meant to help
teachers discern how far along their students are but after researching I have discovered that
most of those evaluation are used to see if the school should be funded further. You cannot
control all the factors that go into passing an evaluation; I have first hand
knowledge of this sir because I am in fact a student. I am someone who has to deal with tests on
a weekly basis henceforth I understand what they deal with. For example, a student could be ill
or possibly exhausted, maybe even stressed. Yes, students and teachers alike could become
stressed out by these evaluations due to their futures depending remarkably heavy on them. This
leads to teachers only teaching material on the tests rather than the complete course. Therefore
leading to inadequate teachers which contributes to the multiple factors you could not control;
illness, student maturity, which renders your evaluations unreliable.
Another possible factor could simply be that the student has not reached an age of maturity
and does not take the test seriously or realize the impact that evaluation could have on the rest of
their life. In a way making these tests required seems almost like a form of punishment because
that person may have to repeat a year or not get a high school diploma at all only because of a
single day they could not perform to their utmost ability.
Which leads me into the next couple of points and a most arguable statement I have heard
from a teacher. " If a student cannot pass a simple test then maybe that student is incapable of
taking care of themselves once out of high school." Other than this statement being extremely
false and unrealistic the statement is repulsively unfair! A student could have moved to another
part of a country where the tests are different due to what people deem worthy of after school use
and simply wasnt prepared for the text they are now required to participate in. My mother, for
instance, was not the best student in high school because she was not completely mature yet (like
most high school students) as a result she ended with some unsatisfactory grades. My mother
later on achieved a bachelors degree, masters, and in a licensed lawyer of the state. My mother is
a doctor of the Law and she did not do so great in high school which did greatly affect her. It was
quite difficult for her to get into a school later on because of grades on tests and so forth. She
regretted her attitude in school, who says all these kids now are not the same as my mother?

The Keystone tests should not be a requirement to graduate from high school due to ever
changing situations and factors of which cannot be controlled. The test does not give an equal
opportunity to everyone and is extremely unreliable. I implore you sir to not pass the law which
would make it a requirement because it could potentially ruin students and teachers lives. The
evaluations would put too much stress on everyone involved and would be a waste of taxpayers
money. Thank you for taking time out of your day to listen to a concerned student Governor
Wolf. I know you will consider my statements and make the wisest choice possible.
Sincerely,
Moriah Whiteman