01-02-2012, 11:59 PM
Schools are reflections of the communities they serve. If nobody follows through at home, education isn't valued. About 20% of the population will do well no matter what and another 20% will fail no matter what. The other 60% need parents to reinforce the importance of education. If that doesn't happen, it just doesn't happen. Because we let so many people get away with dropping the ball, we can call it "society" when in truth it is a home problem.
This book http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd...oduct=8982 ruined education. It convinced systems and principals to give students who do NOTHING a 50% or 60% grade. Then all a student has to do is a few assignments and they automatically pass a course.
Why give students grades they didn't earn? Because most parents are only concerned with grades, not content. Grades are only for parents, they have no real meaning. Rankings would be better. How do you compare to others? Are you in the top 50% or lowest 20%? Are you worth the money it takes to continue your education? Because if you don't bother, you really are a waste of money. Inflating grades to get kids into college is a bullshit practice that wastes resources.
Half of students in this country aren't doing well. It has very little to do with schools. It has everything to do with parents.
This book http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd...oduct=8982 ruined education. It convinced systems and principals to give students who do NOTHING a 50% or 60% grade. Then all a student has to do is a few assignments and they automatically pass a course.
Why give students grades they didn't earn? Because most parents are only concerned with grades, not content. Grades are only for parents, they have no real meaning. Rankings would be better. How do you compare to others? Are you in the top 50% or lowest 20%? Are you worth the money it takes to continue your education? Because if you don't bother, you really are a waste of money. Inflating grades to get kids into college is a bullshit practice that wastes resources.
Half of students in this country aren't doing well. It has very little to do with schools. It has everything to do with parents.