Debate has been held over whether or not all high school students across the United States should take the same test to graduate high school. Nevada students are required to pass their Proficiency tests, while students in other states are required to pass a different test to graduate.

While it seems nice to imagine that all of the US students should be on the same standard academically, it simply is not reasonable. Do you really expect a kid in Connecticut to test the same as a student from Hawaii? See? Not reasonable.

While there is nothing wrong with a public high school education in Hawaii, it just is not fair to hold such a student to the same expectations as a student from a state who provides better education.

In a ranking of the high school education a state could offer, done by www.USnews.com, Connecticut ranked number one and Montana ranked last. Surprisingly enough, Nevada ranked 16.

It would be a nice fantasy to have a unified student body all across the country, but in order to have that happen, the entire system would have to be reorganized. And quite frankly, I don’t think America is up for the task right now. We are already dealing with unemployment, national deficit, and soon we will be dealing with crippling effects of the oil spill in the gulf.

Such a task it would be, to get every student in America to the same standard. Either students wouldn’t be challenged enough, or the expectation would be too difficult!

Even if the standard was set nationally, students who are accustomed to one type of education will be caught off guard. Could you imagine being asked this year to perform to the standards of a kid in Massachusetts? The number of graduating seniors would drop considerately.

While the notion is very pleasant, it is simply unreasonable. Until the education system is changed for the better – higher budgets, more effective testing, and dedicated teachers – a national test to determine graduation is outrageous. Maybe someday, but not any time soon.