August 18, 2008

What does this teach kids?

Recently, the Dallas Independent School District announced its new grading policy. The key points are:

Homework grades should be given only when the grades will "raise a student's average, not lower it."

Teachers must accept overdue assignments, and their principal will decide whether students are to be penalized for missing deadlines.

Students who flunk tests can retake the exam and keep the higher grade.

Teachers cannot give a zero on an assignment unless they call parents and make "efforts to assist students in completing the work."

(Dallas Morning News, Aug. 17, 2008)

What does this teach students? First, doesn't this significantly lower educational standards and diminish the value of a degree? Second, what life skills does this teach? Employers should let you do whatever whenever you get around to it?

Is this happening across the country - or is this merely bad news for Dallas students?

5 comments:

melody said...

This is starting to happen everywhere...Teachers do not have it easy trying to actually impart knowledge in this kind of environment!

Diana said...

I can't imagine how hard it is to be a teacher in this environment.

TheFiveDays said...

My kiddos are still not even in kindergarten, so I'm not sure if it's happening here in California. But it sounds ridiculous, wherever it is happening! Where has common sense gone??

Anonymous said...

My kids are in a charter school here in CO...if the assignment is one day late (without a good excise) it is 50% off, 2 days late they get a zero, but it must be turned in. Period. My daughter lost almost a month of school due to illness and almost managed to make herself even more ill by worrying about it. We emailed her teachers (who knew she was very ill...suspected mono) and we managed to get her to calm down. She finished the year with a 3.96 GPA in 10th grade. What I love about our school is that the kids are held accountable and they rise to the challenges.

Susan (6th gen Texan raising 7th gen Texans out of state)

Diana said...

Hi Five Days - I'm not sure where common sense has gone, but apparently it is disappearing from quite a number of school districts. My little one isn't in school yet either, so I have some time to investigate options.

Susan - I love your signature on your comment. :) Your kids' school sounds like it is teaching responsibility along with classroom subjects. Congrats on your daughter's success!

Diana