Re: computerdisc-l: Passing to the 9th grade

[kossuth <sfollin@network-one.com>]

Cynthia Kahler wrote:
> 
> Thank you for all the replies about passing to the ninth grade.  Most of
> you didn't send them to the list serve so I'll let those of you that are
> interested know what the gist of the replies were.  I got approximately 11
> replies.  Well folks, it appears we are all in the same boat.  Only one of
> those eleven replies was in a district that students were required to pass
> or they were retained.  Many others claimed a 20-30% failure rate. If that
> one district weren't so far away, I would apply for a job!!! - doing almost
> anything.  My philosophy has always been - expect success and many students
> will rise to the challenge.  Oh well, I'm told it's a "district thing" so I
> guess we're all in this together.  It makes it hard to get students to see
> the importance of technology and hard to justify the long hours
> before/after school that are sometimes necessary for us to put in.  My
> failures are increasing as the years go by.  I faked students out
> completely the first year with the "I don't know" reply when they asked if
> they had to pass it; it worked on some the second year.  They know better
> now - and yes, GPA matters to some, but they'd care about the grade if it
> didn't follow them to the high school, wouldn't they?  Thanks for the
> replies.
> 
> Cynthia Kahler
> OMS
I can top that one.  In our school, computer classes or any vocational
courses do not count when figuring GPA.  Only "academic" courses count
toward class ranking, National Honor Society status, etc.  This makes it
even harder to get students to pass.  I have raised many arguments to my
administration, but they won't budge.  Students who are aware of this
fact, don't put forth as much effort as they do in other classes.  Even
the brightest ones.

Suzanne Follin
Kossuth