A NY high school was given $6 million dollars to help students get better grades. The New York Post obtained some documents showing staff at the school were given approval to dumb down the requirements for students to pass. Basically, they are giving kids additional points to “help” them pass.
The school is Washington Irving HS, near Union Square, administrators have approved new grading policies that give failing kids credits toward graduation. The school’s Panel for Academic Success, made up by Principal Bernardo Ascona and assistant principals, are responsible for these rules.
Under the rules:
- Students who get failing scores of 50 to 55 in class will “automatically” get 15 points for a passing 65 to 70 grade if they pass a Regents exam. Kids who score a minimum 65 on the Regents “should receive a passing grade” in the class.
- A final grade of 60 to 64 “will be changed automatically” to a passing 65.
- Students who fail a class “will be assigned … a work project not to exceed five pages” or “alternative project.” Livid teachers say pupils who cut class or blew off studying get a “packet” of work or take an online multiple-choice “credit recovery” program.
“The message is loud and clear: Don’t worry if you don’t attend school — we’ll just give you an easy way to make up the credit,” a staffer said. “What does that say to the kids who actually do the class work, tests, projects and homework?”
This is unacceptable on many levels. Most of us had to work hard to make A’s. Giving out passing grades to kids who didn’t earn them is setting them up for failure. How can we expect our kids to work hard for anything if they are handed everything without trying.
What do you think of this? How do you think these school administrators should be punished?
