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One more example of PC out of control. But this time, it's not Kali....

What would school have been like if you never had to worry about getting an F? Students at West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Va., are about to find out...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 0111400180" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A grade of "incomplete" creates more accountability?

It creates a sense of, "Hey, I can get it done later...if I feel like it".

A grade of "F", means that you don't know what you are doing and either need help or a slap upside the noggin. Of course, that slap is no longer acceptable, as discipline is a big no-no.

Cy-Fair ISD board just passed a policy that students are allowed to retake exams until they pass it. No F's.

Folk,

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but failure is someone else's fault. In this case, I think we can blame the previous administration and G.W. Bush and his "...no kid left behind..." schtick.

Oldgringo wrote:Folk,

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but failure is someone else's fault. In this case, I think we can blame the previous administration and G.W. Bush and his "...no kid left behind..." schtick.

Darn, I forgot that. But its not my fault that I forgot it.

No Failure and No Accountability = No Success and Mediocrity (at best). It is amazing what passes for an education these days, and I cannot help but fear for the future of our nation. As a society we are already where I feared we would ultimately get to be if folks stayed asleep at the wheel. Little wonder that many of us lament the passing of the United States of America we grew up with.

I wonder just how these little darlin's are going to muddle through life without deadlines to meet or consequences to their actions. I distinctly remember my teachers having absolutely no mercy for late work, tardy to class, acting like a buffoon, and all the other stuff I and many others tried to get away with. When my employer gives me a deadline, they expect it to be met. If issues arise, they should be notified immediately so adjustments can hopefully be made.

Unlimited retakes until you pass, no deadlines for homework, and all that kind of rot is total rubbish. And I say this as a man currently enrolled in a major university to get a teaching degree.......Children aren't supposed to be singled out or made to feel bad about themselves either. We must protect their delicate personalities and egos. We must stroke their self esteem. All this while they run amok with their trousers hanging below their tail ends using language to their teachers that my father would have blistered me for. Balderdash!!!! Take away the cell phones, give them homework that is graded, and give them appropriate expectations that they must meet. Tell them what the consequences are for both good and poor behavior.

There was a young lady in my political science class last semester that was moaning and groaning that our professor didn't use Powerpoint presentations or email notes to everyone. She said he needed to join the "modern age" and that him simply lecturing was not really teaching her anything. I asked if she had listened to a word he said or took a single note. Naturally the answer was in the negative. For the first three lectures he reminded all that if anyone missed three classes for any reason, they would fail. Period. His graduate assistant took roll by seating chart. Very old fashioned, but effective. Little princess was astonished that she FAILED THE CLASS. Didn't pass a single test, and missed 6 lectures to boot. As she was vainly trying to make her point to others, who were sympathetic, mind you, I butted in and told her that if she would just GROW UP, do what was made clear in both the syllabus and by the professor, pay attention in class and stay off the laptop/texting/giggling, she would most like have passed.

My wife is currently a teacher. The district she just left has a policy like the one described, and its atrocious. Impossible for the teachers to manage. The kids wait until the day before grades are due and then turn everything in at once for the entire six weeks. How is a teacher supposed to grade/evaluate the work when they have to process it all in one night?

If I was out sick a day in school, the teacher gave me my work and let me have the number of days I was out sick to get it back. Reasonable. That was if the absence was excused. If unexcused, no make up. You skipped, you blew it.

Sorry for the long post, but I really have issues with some of the kinder-gentler fluffy mentality going around. There are some really good kids out there. They deserve to be better prepared for what life really is than being pandered to and molly coddled every step of their developing life. Stress, adversity and failure are parts of life. Parts that can and do happen, and for which even the best are totally unprepared to deal with under current policies. I'm not saying brow beat them and wear them down. I try to prepare my teenagers for reality, and reality is not always peaches and cream.......

Are teachers' tenure/pensions somehow connected to their students' passing/failing? Just wonderin'...

Not at this time, but who knows what the future holds? I have heard of proposals to tie pay to performance of students on standardized tests and such, but my personal feeling is that we are doing enough of "teaching to the test" and not enough of any other teaching. Like critical thinking.

A student can be taught to do a task, just like a pet, but they may not demonstrate the understanding of the concept. When you see a right triangle, you know that A-squared + B-squared = C-squared, but can you say that you know why? (granted that after all these years, my brain pan may be a little dusty, too.)

As I said, there are a lot of really good kids out there, and they need the fullest spectrum of opportunity that can be provided.

My pay is always attached to my performance. If I don't perform, I don't get paid. At all. I get fired.

lonewolf wrote:I wonder just how these little darlin's are going to muddle through life without deadlines to meet or consequences to their actions.

Entitlements.

lonewolf wrote:My pay is always attached to my performance. If I don't perform, I don't get paid. At all. I get fired.

That's not quite fair to teachers, though. They've got to deal with little devils who are actively degrading their performance.

That's true. There are some apples in the basket that are going to be a little rotten.

I wonder if the "no pass---no play" law is encouraging some students who could take tougher courses to take easier ones instead.

Education is a tough thing. Right now those that are actively degrading thier performance aren't suffering any consequences for their actions. I really want to be able to make a difference in the lives of children. To lead by example, to bring them the (supposed) wisdom of my years of experience, to guide them to success. As I said, there are a lot of good kids out there, and I don't see why they have to suffer because of a few. Those few should be sent back to try it again. Just my opinion, for what it is worth.

AndyC wrote:Bring back the cane (or whatever).

We have a winner!!!