chanel
Silver Member
Fairfax County's West Potomac High School recently shifted to a new grading policy that, while not eliminating F's, aims to reduce their incidence. As The Post's Donna St. George reported, the student report cards mailed out this month didn't contain F's but marks of "I" for incomplete. Under the policy, students will be given additional months to learn the subject matter, complete the required work and get a passing grade. If they fail to do that, the "I" would then be converted to an "F."
Traditionalists are discomfited by the change and the message it sends to students. Shouldn't young people learn that there are consequences for not doing a good job? Are teachers losing the powerful tool of failure as a means to motivate students? And, what about the fairness to the students who put in the effort to do the work on time? Grade inflation is already pernicious, what with weighted student scores, elimination of class ranking and the proliferation of A's on college campuses. Indeed, the loss of credibility in how students are graded - as evidenced by the disparity in how they test on state and national tests - is one reason for the push for common national standards and accountability.
A test for the F
I'm curious whether the students will be expected to learn the material on their own, or if the district will be providing tutors to assist the students with the makeup work. It sounds to me like the teachers will be forced into passing everyone.
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