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High School Teachers Chatboard

Forcing to pass seniors

by HS Teacher

May 28, 2014

So, our principal is basically forcing teachers to pass seniors so that they can graduate. This is regardless of whether the students actually passed any assessments, did any work, or even showed up to class. Our principal is probably feeling pressure from above, and wants our school to look good.

Obviously, teachers are very demoralized about this (and so are counselors), and it just teaches kids that they really don't have to do anything (including showing up to school!) because they will graduate anyway.

I was wondering if anyone else is in the same situation.

And... I was wondering if there is something that can be done about it.

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Questions and one school's solution On 5/28/14, HS Teacher wrote:

Is this a new thing? How long has it been going on if not? And what about your state tests? Schools are judged these days by the state tests first, the graduation rates a distant second so likely your Principal has a different motive.

What would happen to these students if retained? Is there an altern...See MoreOn 5/28/14, HS Teacher wrote:

Is this a new thing? How long has it been going on if not? And what about your state tests? Schools are judged these days by the state tests first, the graduation rates a distant second so likely your Principal has a different motive.

What would happen to these students if retained? Is there an alternative program for retained seniors or do they just repeat the 12th grade curriculum which they're failed once already?

Without knowing whether this is new or not, recommendations are hard to make. If you've found that retaining your failed seniors turns them around and when they repeat the year, they start to show up and do well, then it would make no sense to let them graduate. Has that been the case?

Around her most schools do more or less the same - sometimes they'll make them go to summer school and then let them give them a diploma. No school here has had luck with just retaining them. They don't show up in greater numbers the next year and they don't do any more well when they repeat the 12th grade then in their first go-round.

Here it happens simply because no school has an answer to the problem - the schools have no alternative program for retained seniors. It may be different where you are but here students who fail the 12th grade have had problems for years. They've struggled for years with low and failing grades and by their senior year some stop attending school. The truancy officers can't begin to keep up with all of them and often there isn't a functional parent who goes to work each day much less also sees that the student goes to school each day.

The only school I know of that does retain seniors has an alternative program into which it funnels them and there they get remedial attention of which they've gotten little over the years. Some of them turn around in the sense their skills grow and because the program is significantly smaller than our high schools here tend to be, the absentee rate is significantly less.

That's what one school here has found to do about it but all the schools here have been tight for money and it's the only program like it.

This alternative program was put together by teachers - our unions are under pressure these days but if yours is still functional, direct it to pushing for an alternative program that focuses on basic literacy and computer skills. Some of our businesses contribute to it and support the program and offer internships to the kids in it who do well.

> So, our principal is basically forcing teachers to pass > seniors so that they can graduate. This is regardless of > whether the students actually passed any assessments, did > any work, or even showed up to class. Our principal is > probably feeling pressure from above, and wants our school > to look good. > > Obviously, teachers are very demoralized about this (and so > are counselors), and it just teaches kids that they really > don't have to do anything (including showing up to school!) > because they will graduate anyway. > > I was wondering if anyone else is in the same situation. > > And... I was wondering if there is something that can be > done about it.

May 29, 2014

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That's ridiculous On 5/28/14, HS Teacher wrote: > So, our principal is basically forcing teachers to pass > seniors so that they can graduate. This is regardless of > whether the students actually passed any assessments, did > any work, or even showed up to class. Our principal is > probably feeling pressure from above, and wants our school > to lo...See More

May 29, 2014

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OP Thanks to both of you who responded. You've certainly given me a lot to think about!

On 5/29/14, That's ridiculous wrote: > On 5/28/14, HS Teacher wrote: >> So, our principal is basically forcing teachers to pass >> seniors so that they can graduate. This is regardless of >> whether the students actually passed any ass...See More

Jun 5, 2014

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community college teacher Just now reading this thread, I can relate to this issue as a parent and as a teacher. My son gradueated from high school despite having made little effort in his classes because he knew that no more was expected/required of him, though he is very capable. I see the results in the local community college, where many students have never written a re...See More

Jul 1, 2014

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Steve On 7/01/14, community college teacher wrote: > Just now reading this thread, I can relate to this issue as a > parent and as a teacher. My son gradueated from high school > despite having made little effort in his classes because he knew > that no more was expected/required of him,

What you're saying then is that your son was c...See MoreOn 7/01/14, community college teacher wrote: > Just now reading this thread, I can relate to this issue as a > parent and as a teacher. My son gradueated from high school > despite having made little effort in his classes because he knew > that no more was expected/required of him,

What you're saying then is that your son was content with Cs - I read the article to which you provided the address. The teacher who wrote the article spoke well of her students but the ones who do no work and hates that she must award the non-workers a C. She expects more of them but feels she lacks the poke or the prod to move them to do work.

She does not say she had to give those students who do no work 'A's or 'B's but a C. So a C is an acceptable grade to your son?

And your son took no interest in his classes? Nothing intrigued him? He coasted through on his 'C's and his indifference?

I'm sorry but - I know there are kids out there who have no homes to do homework in and kids who live very challenged and sad lives. I know there are kids who feel hopeless about themselves and their future and sit in school everyday mired in hopelessness hoping to get through another school day.

But as you're a teacher and employed, I'm sure you present a hopeful outlook each day as you go off to work each day. I'm sure you set a fine example in your home and prepare your lessons looking diligent and responsible.

So what's up with your son? If his teachers had to award him 'C's, were you content with those 'C's? Did your son disregard your discontent when he came home with 'C's?

So I am sincerely sorry but - I don't see how your son's issue is that too little was expected of him by his teachers. He was content with low grades - a C is a low grade - why is he content with that? Where's his pride? Why did no bit of information intrigue him sufficiently to sit up and take notice on his own? As you expect more of your students I would think you'd expect more of your son even if his teachers did not - why did he not have to live up to your standards?

As you describe it, your son's issues don't speak to me of teachers expecting too little of him but that he expects little of himself - success in school is not important to him if he is content with Cs and that he does not take you seriously when you surely pointed out to him that he needed to do more than was being asked of him at school.

though he is very > capable. I see the results in the local community college, where > many students have never written a research paper and cannot even > write a brief essay without several serious grammar errors, such > as including sentence fragments and comma splices. > The problem the OP describes is common, and I don't think there is > a solution to it. Here is a link to a piece that appeared in the > Washington Post;'s education blog (The Answer Sheet), called "I'd > love to teach, but." > > [link removed];

Jul 16, 2014

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