Shot: they will normalize you downward because you are excellent:
Chaser: they will normalize you upward simply because…er, I’m just shaking my head:
A Tennessee school district has voted to set the minimum failing grade in its high schools at 60 percent, making it easier for students to pass. Board members on the Monroe County Board of Education approved the new grading policy, which is meant to help students who are putting in effort, but struggling to raise their grades. Whitney Neal and Dr. Michael Fiorillo appeared on “Fox and Friends Weekend” this morning to debate if this new policy just hurts students in the long run.
“You’re letting kids know exactly that they have to do the bare minimum to achieve a passing grade and that’s ridiculous,” Neal said. “It doesn’t teach them that there are consequences for failure and there are consequences for not producing hard work.” Fiorillo disagreed, pointing out that this should only affect the lower 7 to 10-percent of students.
Hmmm, so putting in an effort to teach them excellence never occurred to these folks? The condescension of low expectations abounds – they should NEVER be allowed near school aged children.
“These are kids that are having a hard time and they’re just going to drop out,” he said, noting that 75 percent of the crimes committed in the U.S. are committed by high school dropouts.
So giving them a faux grade is going to make that all better? Your role is to TEACH – then TEACH them to appreciate excellence; what it takes, the perspiration required, the hard work demanded – and the mentoring and supported needed to tie it all together. Most of all, give them the experience of having achieved it – the most efficient and successful way to heighten their self-esteem. After all, that HAS been the mantra for a couple of decades, yes?
Oh, no – re: “show up” trophies. Yeah, that’s worked well.
“In my opinion, we have to try and graduate these kids. Not give them a free pass … it’s an opportunity to give them a second chance.”
Sorry – but showing them that you are willing to cheat on their behalf isn’t giving them a second chance. Instead, it is teaching them a far different lesson and one that will stay with them – “there will always be someone there to make allowances for sub-optimal performance.
