There. That's done.
Posted on 04/28/2009 7:51:35 AM PDT by CHEE
The Texas Senate has passed a measure to require that all Texas schools base their grading systems on merit alone. The measure comes in the wake of revelations by teachers and others that some schools had instituted grading systems where no one fails.
The Senate Education Committee and Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott found that “minimum grading policies” in some school districts were preventing teachers from assigning grades they believed students deserved.
(Excerpt) Read more at texasrepublicnews.com ...
Show me a school where no one fails and I’ll show you a school where everyone fails.
I worked at an inner city school in Dallas for 5 years in the 90s—my first semester there EVERY child in my class failed! I turned in my grades for their report cards and was read the riot act, told I couldn’t fail them! What was I thinking?!?
I had to give the special ed kids the minimum grade of 70, and the regular classroom students a grade of 50 (which was considered passing) instead of their ACTUAL grades. This applied to students who spent the entire 6 weeks of the semester leaning back in their seats with their feet on the desks only causing trouble, turning in not a SINGLE classroom or homework assignment!! Some students did this the entire year!! And yup, they moved on up to the next grade at the end of the year!!
And they wonder why kids are failing and won’t motivate themselves. Why bother trying to do your best when it doesn’t make any difference?!?
Schools are no longer able to weed out malcontents. 90% of time goes to 10% of the kids. Behavioral problem students should be expelled from school. Students who fail should have mandatory summer school and retained if they can’t make up the work. Add to the mix classes with large populations of illegal aliens and the situation is a recipe for failure.
Schooling and education don’t mix. OK, that’s a bit of an overstatement. OTOH, maybe it isn’t.
There. That's done.
Nope, can't have alternative schools or special classrooms and can't kick them out or you'll have some lawyer breathing down your neck. Back in the day, we didn't have these problems. Kids sat in their desks and did their work. Now days with kids running amuck and causing chaos in the rooms, parents are all whiny that schools are prisons. Can't have it both ways, folks.
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O'Bambi said --I'll pay for it!
Well said!!!
I had a 7th grade teacher who made it his goal that all students were on grade level by the end of the year. He held special sessions during lunch and recess, assigned peer tutors (I was one), promised a special outing for students who succeeded and basically did everything in his power to help those students grasp the material. One student went from a 2nd grade reading level to 9th grade. I can be done if the teacher is dedicated and provides motivation. Oh yeah I forgot, the parents have to be on the same page too.
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