Comments on: The Gravity Of Graduation http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/06/the-gravity-of-graduation/ Challenge The Status Quo Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:24:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Matt Hall http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/06/the-gravity-of-graduation/comment-page-1/#comment-20805 Matt Hall Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:41:01 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/06/the-gravity-of-graduation/#comment-20805 I know it's easy for me to talk, since I have NEVER had a student beg me to pass him in Japanese 3 so that he can graduate. Still, I didn't cut Phuong-kun any slack when he needed his grade changed so that his UCLA acceptance wouldn't be revoked. One standard for everyone-be it frosh or senior. Meet the standard, or accept the consequences. What's wrong with that concept? In this case, the standard is "pass a certain number of classes or you don't graduate on time." The penalty is not that severe, when you really think about it. You're not telling the student they can NEVER have a diploma. You're merely telling them they will not have it that particular June day. And let's be clear, there has to be some serious tomfoolerly going on to miss out on so many credits that you are actually behind come senior year. Either way, it is not your fault. Students and families need to take responsibility for their choices. A tricycle doesn't work with one flat wheel, one regular wheel, and one wheel missing altogether. See if you can figure out which wheel is which in my eyes. I know it’s easy for me to talk, since I have NEVER had a student beg me to pass him in Japanese 3 so that he can graduate. Still, I didn’t cut Phuong-kun any slack when he needed his grade changed so that his UCLA acceptance wouldn’t be revoked. One standard for everyone-be it frosh or senior. Meet the standard, or accept the consequences. What’s wrong with that concept? In this case, the standard is “pass a certain number of classes or you don’t graduate on time.” The penalty is not that severe, when you really think about it. You’re not telling the student they can NEVER have a diploma. You’re merely telling them they will not have it that particular June day. And let’s be clear, there has to be some serious tomfoolerly going on to miss out on so many credits that you are actually behind come senior year. Either way, it is not your fault. Students and families need to take responsibility for their choices. A tricycle doesn’t work with one flat wheel, one regular wheel, and one wheel missing altogether. See if you can figure out which wheel is which in my eyes.

]]> By: Debbie http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/06/the-gravity-of-graduation/comment-page-1/#comment-547 Debbie Sun, 04 Jun 2006 16:37:59 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/06/the-gravity-of-graduation/#comment-547 I've been thinking about this a lot lately, too, as my freshmen has been asking for work they can do to bring their grade up. I am acutely aware that, as a freshmen teacher, my grade sends a message: this child is capable of doing the work in English 1. Not that he does it, but that he is capable. One would argue that, with freshmen, it's the same message. Is this freshmen mature enough to take class seriously AND do the work to expectation levels? Freshmen are on wildly different levels of maturity, though, and it's sometimes tough to make that choice. Who knows where they will be in 2-3 years? Will they even still be in school? CCOC? On the AP track? It's a bit different with seniors. You won't see them again, so you're making a value judgment about their ability to adapt in the real world, an entirely different judgment. IMHO, if you have a senior who's a few points behind, probably due to late work, but he is capable of meeting the standards and doing the work when implored, then yeah... pass him. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, too, as my freshmen has been asking for work they can do to bring their grade up. I am acutely aware that, as a freshmen teacher, my grade sends a message: this child is capable of doing the work in English 1. Not that he does it, but that he is capable. One would argue that, with freshmen, it’s the same message. Is this freshmen mature enough to take class seriously AND do the work to expectation levels? Freshmen are on wildly different levels of maturity, though, and it’s sometimes tough to make that choice. Who knows where they will be in 2-3 years? Will they even still be in school? CCOC? On the AP track?

It’s a bit different with seniors. You won’t see them again, so you’re making a value judgment about their ability to adapt in the real world, an entirely different judgment. IMHO, if you have a senior who’s a few points behind, probably due to late work, but he is capable of meeting the standards and doing the work when implored, then yeah… pass him.

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