How do you guys feel about this one?

[Marilyn]

Our new school superintendent just initiated two new interesting policies.

#1-No child can be "held back" in pre K- grade 3 for ANY reason. This literally means you can stay out of school as much as you like, not master needed skills for any reason (i.e. lack of understanding or just plain refusing to do the work), and still pass.

#2- the ABCDF grades no longer exist. IT will just be mastered, partially mastered, not mastered.


I will wait until a few of you talk before I do.

[chitowngirl]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

imo, this grandiose idea belongs right up there with the D.C. model

teach the students to pass the test ... because, as we all know, passing the test is the main objective

[Marilyn]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

My little God son was "held back", an informed decision made with teachers and parents both involved. He truly was not ready for the next level, and that decision has made all the difference in how he has progressed since (positively).

As for the grading system change, I have no problem with that. The only purpose in grades is to let student and parent know how they are progessing or where improvement is needed. I think the new wording takes care of that requirement good enough for me.

Besides, grades with "point averages" attached don't start to "count" until grade 9 when GPAs for graduation are beginning to be tabulated.

[Dyoll_73]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Marilyn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">#1-No child can be &quot;held back&quot; in pre K- grade 3 for ANY reason. This literally means you can stay out of school as much as you like, not master needed skills for any reason (i.e. lack of understanding or just plain refusing to do the work), and still pass.</div></div>

What's their reasoning for coming up with this policy?

[Boricua_papi]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

These policies will only see to it that the next generations will grow up to be spoiled, lazy, and uncompetitive compared to adults in other nations. They will eat are lunch - it's already happening and it will get much worse.

[twiney]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: B_P</div><div class="ubbcode-body">These policies will only see to it that the next generations will grow up to be spoiled, lazy, and uncompetitive compared to adults in other nations. They will eat are lunch - it's already happening and it will get much worse. </div></div>

I have them coming into the University Bippy and there are days I am happy there is a dividing wall between them and me. Blastid pickney fi pay confirmation deposit of $175... pay $75 get receipt fi $75 and get bout 10 email reminder plus a post card and then she and her helicopter puppa come and a bawl when she get kicked out of the class them and since enough first year pickney was waiting for the spots to open up she get jook. bout she think the system accept her $75 and she get receipt saying thanks for her payment it was ok ...

[ILP]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

i cant speak for your super, but can understand not wanting to keep a child back. but at what point does such a practice end up hurting instead of helping? it sickens me when i see the kids (at my level) and they have never had the experience of failure. they are emotionally inequipt to deal with it.

unfortunately, in my state, educators at my level only teach kids the skill of passing tests. period. it is sad, but very true. laws and policies have seen to that. i feel the frustration of my counterparts at the university level, as the kids they get really have no experience of working hard and sticking with something, even when it is difficult. they have adults that have taught them that they can give up (quit) and/or not follow through when things get hard. the aults have taught them (by policies and actions) that if isnt quick, easy then dont shy away from it.

[Marilyn]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Humano</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Marilyn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">#1-No child can be &quot;held back&quot; in pre K- grade 3 for ANY reason. This literally means you can stay out of school as much as you like, not master needed skills for any reason (i.e. lack of understanding or just plain refusing to do the work), and still pass.</div></div>

What's their reasoning for coming up with this policy? </div></div>

Hum the public reason that was given is that &quot;failure&quot; at such a young age permanently damages the self esteem of the children.

however, I just finished reading the letters to the editor and many a professional educator stated that going to the next grade without the skills and understanding and performance level of you peers in that grade would be just as degrading.

However, the public is not fooled they know that the underlying reason for this change is to increse the grade promotion rate which is a vital indicator in the No CHild Left Behind legislation.

[Marilyn]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: B_P</div><div class="ubbcode-body">These policies will only see to it that the next generations will grow up to be spoiled, lazy, and uncompetitive compared to adults in other nations. They will eat are lunch - it's already happening and it will get much worse. </div></div>

I believe we have fallen to somewhere around #16 in developed nations in education where as we used to be #1

[Xavier]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

This education system is a &quot;shell game&quot; moving children from grade to grade regardless of if they are ready. The last straw for me was the High School Certificate of Completion. Some students will get a High School Certificate of Completion (dunce like bat or never did the work) and some will get High School Diploma (I did the school work and passed). Makes no sense.

[Gen]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

the american school system never ceases to amaze me


why promote a child to the next grade if they are not reading etc at that grade level ?

why would i as a teacher want that nonsense in MY class ? so I can have a constant headache ? kissteet

i would not want my child to be promoted if she was not at that &quot;grade&quot; level ? who wants to be in a mainstream class where they are struggling

[Marilyn]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xavier</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This education system is a &quot;shell game&quot; moving children from grade to grade regardless of if they are ready. The last straw for me was the High School Certificate of Completion. Some students will get a High School Certificate of Completion (dunce like bat or never did the work) and some will get High School Diploma (I did the school work and passed). Makes no sense. </div></div>

X man
The &quot;completion&quot; certificates are most often given to special education students when they reach the age of grade 12 (notice I did not say masters the curriculum). These are not worth the paper they are written on and the child can do absolutely nothing with it as far aas employment, military entrance, or further education.

Likewise this same piece of paper is given to any student who fails to ultimately pass course work (i.e., English 12, American History), or ultimately fails their Gateway exit exam and still cannot complete it the summer after the regular graduating class.

For these students the only hope of ever getting a real dipolma is to finish the course work in adult high school , or some how, some day, pass their exit exams. Their other alternative it to take and pass the GED, with which they can then go on to other things.

[Marilyn]

Re: How do you guys feel about this one?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the american school system never ceases to amaze me


why promote a child to the next grade if they are not reading etc at that grade level ?

why would i as a teacher want that nonsense in MY class ? so I can have a constant headache ? kissteet

i would not want my child to be promoted if she was not at that &quot;grade&quot; level ? who wants to be in a mainstream class where they are struggling </div></div>

Gen
4 years from now, the hardest job in Memphis will be being a 4th grade teacher, and you can figure out why.....by that time, this superintendent , and his cronies would have pulled up tents and been hired by another school system with a more lucrative salary...why I don't know, but that has been the pattern here for the past few years.