Today we had our monthly faculty meeting. It wasn't as annoying and ridiculous as usual..but they never totally disappoint us.
Last week we had to submit a list of all the kids who are going to fail for the year. It's basically a joke because probably about half the seventh graders really deserve to fail (40ish kids) but we put down around 20 who "really, really" deserve to fail, but honestly only around 4 or 5 kids will ACTUALLY FAIL.
So, there's no point to it. It happens every year. We make our list. They try to frighten us with how much paperwork all these failures will mean. They meet with us over and over to change the grades ("Look, he has a 55, can't you just give him a 65?"...I GAVE him the 55 when he really deserves like a 7.)
Well, today I heard a new phrase. The assistant principal stood up and told us that if we are "Bold enough to fail them, then we better have our documentation in order to prove it."
BOLD. BOLD ENOUGH.
Like, I have the gall to fail a child. I'm sorry, but bravery doesn't really factor into the equation. THE EMPTY NOTEBOOK DOES.
They aren't 5 years old. If they have literally done NOTHING for 180 days, I don't see why I have to have a whole bunch of paperwork to prove my point.
He then says we must get "work packets" together for the failing ones (this happens every year too). So they can get a "work packet" and finish it and pass the 7th grade. 180 days of instruction crammed into something that only uses a single staple. Of course. Oh, but they won't give us paper for this work packet....or a working copier...or time to make it.
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2 comments:
So many things you write about break my heart. But this just makes me mad.
Students (and from what you say it seems many of them have horrendous personal challenges in their lives as it is) are always the losers in inane adult-world games. And kids don't have the experience to know or understand yet they are being so manipulated and underserved by the system.
Admininstrators more interested in how the statistics look rather than the genuine education of their students will always result in some version ofthe logic displayed here.
I think taking away the idea of "class" (seventh grade, freshman, junior, etc) and focusing more on on skill acquization would help students move at a pace that meets their personal needs. It removes the idea of passing or flunking a grade, and if it takes some more years than others to finish (or less years for those students who are capable of acquiring skills faster) at least the students are being given the opportunity to succeed apart from senseless requirements.
It may even give students an incentive to work harder if they thought they might be done at 16 rather than just bidingtheir time because they know they have twelve years to hang out.
Am I being naive here?
No, you're not being naive. If anything you just have too much sense. It's funny you mention the idea of graduating earlier and abolishing grade levels. We were just talking after that meeting about how we bend over backwards for the kids who couldn't care less about any of it and in the process completely overlook the ones who try and could really benefit from some advancement.
They try so hard to push kids along because you can't have 16 year olds in 5th grade...but more importantly, shouldn't you not have 16 year olds that can't read?
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