The failure reports came out today for the middle of the 4th six week here at the high school where I work. Looking at it, I was pretty astounded, and I thought I would throw some numbers out there to see what you all think.
Of the 488 students we have here at this high school, 296 of them are failing at least one subject. That is well over half the students. On average, students are failing three classes. And when I say failing, I mean mind bending numbers, like someone making an 11 in science or a 20 in Spanish I.
I am pretty concerned about this. It isn't anything new, really. Every six weeks we freak about grades, especially coaches, who want to keep their star players in the game. In Texas, if you aren't passing, you aren't supposed to play. I guess it is probably that way in all states these days. I can remember when I was in high school, back in the late seventies and early eighties, jocks used to brag that they didn't have to try to make the grades, because they played ball.
What I see now is a repeat of the same sort of thing. Only now, instead of turning a blind eye to failure, or worse, "fixing" grades, coaches now go to teachers and urge them to change a failing grade to a passing grade.
Now, I can see if a student made a 69.4 and passing is 70, maybe looking at that student's overall performance in class, did he participate, did he try, is he really struggling or does he not care... But I have seen coaches over and over, approach teachers about a student making a 67 or worse, and urging that teacher to change the grade.
It makes " No Pass No Play" have No Teeth.
I don't know if other schools are like this. I find it very unpleasant and disturbing that this practice goes on.
BTW, no one messes with the students in my class. They are all in the severe to profound range of mental retardation, so no one really pays much attention to their academic performance. It is a shame that they do count in the number of students that passed.
For what it is worth, I don't see anything wrong with allowing a student to fail. I have failed a couple of things in college myself, and I learned a lot from it. I think that we are too quick not to allow kids to experience failure, to allow them to know that they own it, they earned it, and that it is their responsibility. It can be a learning opportunity, the ideal "teaching moment".
I just thought I would share my confusion with everyone. Do with it as you like.
Of the 488 students we have here at this high school, 296 of them are failing at least one subject. That is well over half the students. On average, students are failing three classes. And when I say failing, I mean mind bending numbers, like someone making an 11 in science or a 20 in Spanish I.
I am pretty concerned about this. It isn't anything new, really. Every six weeks we freak about grades, especially coaches, who want to keep their star players in the game. In Texas, if you aren't passing, you aren't supposed to play. I guess it is probably that way in all states these days. I can remember when I was in high school, back in the late seventies and early eighties, jocks used to brag that they didn't have to try to make the grades, because they played ball.
What I see now is a repeat of the same sort of thing. Only now, instead of turning a blind eye to failure, or worse, "fixing" grades, coaches now go to teachers and urge them to change a failing grade to a passing grade.
Now, I can see if a student made a 69.4 and passing is 70, maybe looking at that student's overall performance in class, did he participate, did he try, is he really struggling or does he not care... But I have seen coaches over and over, approach teachers about a student making a 67 or worse, and urging that teacher to change the grade.
It makes " No Pass No Play" have No Teeth.
I don't know if other schools are like this. I find it very unpleasant and disturbing that this practice goes on.
BTW, no one messes with the students in my class. They are all in the severe to profound range of mental retardation, so no one really pays much attention to their academic performance. It is a shame that they do count in the number of students that passed.
For what it is worth, I don't see anything wrong with allowing a student to fail. I have failed a couple of things in college myself, and I learned a lot from it. I think that we are too quick not to allow kids to experience failure, to allow them to know that they own it, they earned it, and that it is their responsibility. It can be a learning opportunity, the ideal "teaching moment".
I just thought I would share my confusion with everyone. Do with it as you like.
