As a teacher I was sometimes asked this question and I always reviewed my grades and the grades that student made with other teachers because I know I'm a fair grader, but a hard one.
Once in a while I did elevate a grade but not often. But it really didn't matter because I would return in the fall and find that some administrator or othr fooled around with the computer and changed them anyway...sometimes more than one letter grade.
I guess what it might come down to eventually is...
At some point potential employers will have to do some type of testing of H.S. grads to see if these grads can learn to do the job that these kids are applying for...
Colleges have entrances exams, at some point employers will have entrance exams. I think that this is a reflection of what some people believe the quality of our HS grads are.
I am sure that H.S. grads are taught to be politically correct. The question is how well do they read, write and do math?
Well, I have a son who just graduated with failing grades. He played around most of the year, but during the last two weeks, even though he had missed deadlines on important assignments, they decided to extend the deadline to the last day of school so he could graduate. He still played around for a week, but then finally got around to doing the work which he finally got in on the very last day. The work was actually very good, for in reality, he is brilliant. He is an intense reader, and his vocab is excellent. For him, math is a snap when he applies himself. At any rate, his last grades were updated to "D's", and he passed.
Honestly, he is such a clown, and a disruption at times (very popular kid), I think that they just wanted him out of there, gone. And, I am like all of you who believe that the standard should be high, and that kids should pay the price for screwing off. Believe it or not, I feel this way. But here is the big "but":
This school was, for my son, nothing but a "social club". A day at school for him was like a day at the bar for a drinker who likes to cut up, get high on alcohol, and tell stories, and try and pick up chicks. Personally I am relieved that he is out of there bad grades and all, because now, he can get on with real living and working, and seeing what reality is all about. For, in the real world, if you don't "cut it", you get fired, and then your bills don't get paid.
And so, even though I know in my heart that he didn't really earn the right to graduate as many kids did, I am glad he is out, and I am glad that he doesn't have the chance to go there next year as a member of the same lame social club, with all of it's laxities.
I wish the schools were tougher all the way around. But in this case, since things evolved the way they did, I am glad he is out, has his diploma, and can get on with it. I am thinking that he ought to join the United States Coast Guard and become some sort of tech person, which he could fit into quite easily.
I'm a mom who deposited my senior daughter at her first class, sat outside the door and escorted her to the next one and so on all day, for about 4 months, so she'd graduate.
Her grades were not the worst; mostly C's, but she didn't want to be there, so she left.
Alot.
For this particular kid it was a combination of being 18, grieving, anger and defiance. None of which is an excuse to fail.
Like Jonny, I wanted this kid to get the high school diploma and I was willing to do whatever it took for her to get the heck outa that school.
My second daughter is in the 5th grade in the fall and the system stinks with a big 'ol capital PEW! But it is what it is.
Do I feel either of my kids grades should be altered to meet some financial criteria and get her through the conveyor belt?
No
Do I feel that sometimes certain kids need differant attention to address issues?
Yes
My cupboards would have to be very empty in order for me to even consider being a teacher in our system. I don't envy them or the admin that has to make the final calls.
In 1978 I was registered and paid in full to go to a private finishing school after high school graduation, leaving 2 weeks later. I had an F in Government.
The teacher told me, at the beginning of the last marking period I'd fail if I didn't do something, not graduate and clearly not go on to this school.
I worked very hard, studied, got tutors, anything we could think of and still it was a failing grade. The teacher finally gave me a D-- because I had really tried. I was able to graduate. The cool part, to me, was that I earned that D--.
I've never forgotten what that taught me; that sometimes circumstances demand another approach,another idea,another look.
Now, as a college student, I definately get that the last minute is the most wrong time to try to fix things.
I do not for one second believe students should get passing grades they don't deserve just to meet a government guideline.
HOWEVER, our government was supposed to provide funding to the schools in order to help them meet the higher guidelines and has not done so.
Johnny L,
I often think the brighter kids do not do as well in school as they could because the schools fail to meet their needs with an adequate challange. These kids are bored, bored, bored, and it is a crying shame.
When I was in graduate school, I was a teaching assistant for one of the freshman chemistry classes. At the end of every semester, I would speak with the instructor about individual grades, and if someone was just below a cut-off, I would usually give a good reason to move the person up. And the instructor would do so.
One semester, I had a student with a 69.0 average. The cut-off for a C was 70. The instructor was surprised that I didn't try to move this student up, but I had good reasons: the pupil did none of the homework, rarely showed up for class, and -- obviously -- didn't study. This person had expressed a desire to be a science teacher. Hopefully, I was able to change that.
Recommended Posts
GarthP2000
... and right into the army.
If that isn't a motivator to crank up them grades, I don't know what is.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
krys
As a teacher I was sometimes asked this question and I always reviewed my grades and the grades that student made with other teachers because I know I'm a fair grader, but a hard one.
Once in a while I did elevate a grade but not often. But it really didn't matter because I would return in the fall and find that some administrator or othr fooled around with the computer and changed them anyway...sometimes more than one letter grade.
So why ask me then?!
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Zshot
I guess what it might come down to eventually is...
At some point potential employers will have to do some type of testing of H.S. grads to see if these grads can learn to do the job that these kids are applying for...
Colleges have entrances exams, at some point employers will have entrance exams. I think that this is a reflection of what some people believe the quality of our HS grads are.
I am sure that H.S. grads are taught to be politically correct. The question is how well do they read, write and do math?
Link to comment
Share on other sites
J0nny Ling0
Well, I have a son who just graduated with failing grades. He played around most of the year, but during the last two weeks, even though he had missed deadlines on important assignments, they decided to extend the deadline to the last day of school so he could graduate. He still played around for a week, but then finally got around to doing the work which he finally got in on the very last day. The work was actually very good, for in reality, he is brilliant. He is an intense reader, and his vocab is excellent. For him, math is a snap when he applies himself. At any rate, his last grades were updated to "D's", and he passed.
Honestly, he is such a clown, and a disruption at times (very popular kid), I think that they just wanted him out of there, gone. And, I am like all of you who believe that the standard should be high, and that kids should pay the price for screwing off. Believe it or not, I feel this way. But here is the big "but":
This school was, for my son, nothing but a "social club". A day at school for him was like a day at the bar for a drinker who likes to cut up, get high on alcohol, and tell stories, and try and pick up chicks. Personally I am relieved that he is out of there bad grades and all, because now, he can get on with real living and working, and seeing what reality is all about. For, in the real world, if you don't "cut it", you get fired, and then your bills don't get paid.
And so, even though I know in my heart that he didn't really earn the right to graduate as many kids did, I am glad he is out, and I am glad that he doesn't have the chance to go there next year as a member of the same lame social club, with all of it's laxities.
I wish the schools were tougher all the way around. But in this case, since things evolved the way they did, I am glad he is out, has his diploma, and can get on with it. I am thinking that he ought to join the United States Coast Guard and become some sort of tech person, which he could fit into quite easily.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Shellon
I'm a mom who deposited my senior daughter at her first class, sat outside the door and escorted her to the next one and so on all day, for about 4 months, so she'd graduate.
Her grades were not the worst; mostly C's, but she didn't want to be there, so she left.
Alot.
For this particular kid it was a combination of being 18, grieving, anger and defiance. None of which is an excuse to fail.
Like Jonny, I wanted this kid to get the high school diploma and I was willing to do whatever it took for her to get the heck outa that school.
My second daughter is in the 5th grade in the fall and the system stinks with a big 'ol capital PEW! But it is what it is.
Do I feel either of my kids grades should be altered to meet some financial criteria and get her through the conveyor belt?
No
Do I feel that sometimes certain kids need differant attention to address issues?
Yes
My cupboards would have to be very empty in order for me to even consider being a teacher in our system. I don't envy them or the admin that has to make the final calls.
In 1978 I was registered and paid in full to go to a private finishing school after high school graduation, leaving 2 weeks later. I had an F in Government.
The teacher told me, at the beginning of the last marking period I'd fail if I didn't do something, not graduate and clearly not go on to this school.
I worked very hard, studied, got tutors, anything we could think of and still it was a failing grade. The teacher finally gave me a D-- because I had really tried. I was able to graduate. The cool part, to me, was that I earned that D--.
I've never forgotten what that taught me; that sometimes circumstances demand another approach,another idea,another look.
Now, as a college student, I definately get that the last minute is the most wrong time to try to fix things.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Abigail
I do not for one second believe students should get passing grades they don't deserve just to meet a government guideline.
HOWEVER, our government was supposed to provide funding to the schools in order to help them meet the higher guidelines and has not done so.
Johnny L,
I often think the brighter kids do not do as well in school as they could because the schools fail to meet their needs with an adequate challange. These kids are bored, bored, bored, and it is a crying shame.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
GeorgeStGeorge
When I was in graduate school, I was a teaching assistant for one of the freshman chemistry classes. At the end of every semester, I would speak with the instructor about individual grades, and if someone was just below a cut-off, I would usually give a good reason to move the person up. And the instructor would do so.
One semester, I had a student with a 69.0 average. The cut-off for a C was 70. The instructor was surprised that I didn't try to move this student up, but I had good reasons: the pupil did none of the homework, rarely showed up for class, and -- obviously -- didn't study. This person had expressed a desire to be a science teacher. Hopefully, I was able to change that.
George
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.