Last school year, our high school where I teach implemented a grading policy: Minimum F. Basically, the lowest score a student can get on a test, project, quiz, homework assignment and any other graded assignments, is 50%. So, if a student turns in an assignment that is worth 100 points, and they get a 45, that score is bumped up to 50. If a student refuses to take an exam, their score on the exam score will be 50. If there is a project that is worth 200 points, the student's grade will be 100 if they refuse to do the project.
The rationale is this: A student's overall grade should not be so adversely affected if they bomb out on an exam or big project. In other words, if a student is getting a B overall and they blow a big project or exam, the kid's grade won't drop to a D. And if a kid is getting a D, the big exam they blow might fail the kid. Why penalize a student so harshly if they make a mistake? Further, they argue, if they continue to get the minimum F, the kid is still going to fail the class.
On the other side, and this policy is not accepted by all staff, is that is not how it works in the real world. It is also not fair for the students who did the work. And finally, it is not fair to the kids who actually spent time on the exam or project, got a 50 and the kid who did nothing got a 50.
Does it work? Well, after 1 year, in the 9th grade, the passing rate went from 44% to about 72%. That doesn't mean anything since so many factors can go into the grades. New teachers, different students, other new policies...
For me, as a special education teacher of the very severely disabled, it doesn't matter. If the kid comes to school, tries, they will pass and more than likely, with an A. If I was a regular education teacher, I would have a different feeling.
I feel school should reflect the real world. If worker decided to not to do a project, they won't get an F, they will, in all probability, will be fired. Same should be true for school.
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WOW..... just, wow!
ReplyDeleteInteresting how it raises the schools averages with little to no effort on the part of the school faculty, so that's an attractive benefit. But further, it IS setting the kids up for failure in the real world. No one gives you something for nothing, except for..... well, the government.
Are they training the next generation of welfare recipients not to try harder, do better, and overcome their limitations?
It is insulting to the students who DO make an effort that the one who does nothing gets half credit. It is soooooo much easier to do the least amount possible and still pass when you work up from 50% average and not 0%. I got ONE 0 in high school and had to work my tail off to get my average back up. Graduated Salutatorian in my class, and worked hard for it.
WOW....