IN A BOLD move of, let’s call it, “inspiration,” the Massachusetts Teachers Association and some of our elected officials have decided that the MCAS — the very foundation of our educational accountability — is no longer necessary to pass as a high school graduation requirement. 

Here in the Cradle of Liberty, where revolutions were sparked and where history has often been written, we are, again, scripting another chapter in our story, but this time not about freedom or enlightenment. Instead, we are proposing eliminating the requirement to read, write, and do math in order to graduate from a Massachusetts high school.

Is now really the moment to lower the bar for our kids through this proposed ballot question?

Forget that the MCAS graduation requirement provides a common, objective measure of achievement that all students in the Commonwealth are expected to meet. Forget that we are only asking kids to “partially meet expectations” on 10th grade standards (that are, in truth, 8th grade standards). Ignore that, annually, fewer than 1 percent of Massachusetts high school seniors – roughly 700 students – don’t graduate because of the MCAS alone.

This is the dawn of a new era, where high school diplomas now become participation trophies. With the MCAS graduation requirement gone, Massachusetts’ official motto will become: “Why aim for the stars when the ground is so much closer?”

Our children can soon join the workforce thinking the Revolutionary War was a disagreement over a tea party gone wrong. But if they can’t even read history books — because only about half of the state’s kids are proficient in reading — we probably won’t have to worry about whether they will be prepared to create our state’s future anyway.

Now every student can be an overachiever. Little Lucas thinks 2+2 is 22? Brilliant! That’s a definite A+. After all, who are we to stifle such “innovative” thinking? You’ll never be able to get a job in coding, AI, engineering, health care, or virtually any other profession you can imagine – but think of the joy of feeling like you are right.

With our state’s nosedive on standardized tests being met with a collective sigh and no master plan to get back on track, gone will be the days when Massachusetts is a beacon of academic excellence. Instead, we’ll bask in the glory of mediocrity and just get rid of any evidence that tells us anything we don’t want to hear.

It’s not like our kids need to compete in a global market in adulthood; they can reflect fondly on the “joyful learning” they received as they tearfully struggle to feed their own kids while facing the challenge of finding a decent job in a future economy for which they were never adequately prepared. Who cares about quadratic equations or the nuances of literature when there’s a live reenactment of “Lord of the Flies” right in front of you?

What has also been conveniently left out in the ongoing MCAS narrative being pushed at your local supermarket during signature collections for the ballot campaign is the actual support provided to students who do not pass the test. There are mechanisms in place for students who do not reach the level of “partially meets expectations,” designed to identify and overcome academic deficiencies.

We do not leave our kids out in the cold in Massachusetts. The MCAS is a thermometer that we use to assess a student’s academic well-being to ensure we are keeping the promises we’ve made to give them a high quality education – not a tool that creates it. 

Students who score “Not Meeting Expectations” or “Partially Meeting Expectations” are required to be placed on an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) that reviews their academic progress and identifies areas for improvement. Students who are still unable to satisfy the MCAS requirements through retesting or with an EPP are able to have their school file an appeal on their behalf, requesting a Competency Determination, which allows a demonstration of learning standards through coursework.  

The bottom line is this: The MTA’s relentless crusade against MCAS and the competency determination is nothing short of a masterstroke – if the goal is to send Massachusetts’ educational standards spiraling downwards and have a catastrophic effect on our communities. It’s impressive how they’ve managed to cloak their political games in the guise of “student welfare.”

While they spar in their political arenas, trading favors and making backroom deals, it’s our children who are getting the short end of the stick. Our future engineers, doctors, writers, and artists are being told: “You don’t need to strive. Mediocrity is fine.”  

Economic mobility? The idea that education was the great equalizer that could lift our children from the depths of poverty to the pinnacles of success? Well, that’s just a dream from yesteryear.

As we march boldly into this uncharted territory, I can only hope that the future has more in store for our children than inflated grades and devalued diplomas. But, hey, what do parents know? We’re just the ones hoping our children get a decent education and a fair shot at success. Silly us for dreaming.

Keri Rodrigues is president of the National Parents Union and founder of Massachusetts Parents United.