In response to: Va. School Reverses 'F' Grade Policy By The Associated Press Published Online: November 22, 2010
I went to elementary, middle and high school in Alexandria, VA and was very interested to see this article. The principal at West Potomac High School (my high schools biggest rival) said they were no longer giving out “F’s” instead students would receive an “I” for incomplete to encourage them the complete the work. To a point I see the principal’s logic but if a student earns a failing grade than that is what they must receive. Incomplete grades are for students who can’t complete work due to circumstances out of their control.
After a week, the principal reversed his new policy because he didn’t have the consensus of teachers and parents. I don’t think it’s a bad idea for high schools to offer “I’s” but only in conditional cases as on a college level. If we start giving students this option we are babying them and not preparing them for the world at large. We all have deadline, when the course is not completed due to laziness or sheer unwillingness, consequences must be suffered and in school that consequence is a failing grade.
Maybe after much review and collaborating with teachers and parents an incomplete grade will be reintroduced in Alexandria and it will help the handful of students that may need it the most.
I don't know much about this policy, but I have heard it's becoming a popular addition to many districts. At my previous school, the Middle and High school implemented this policy. From an administrators standpoint, the results came back positive with fewer failing "grades". However, from what I remember, these "grades" were not accurate as many teachers chose to lessen assignment loads and let things slide.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this type of policy does not reflect the real world. I would have to look more closely at a policy to see if the benefits actually outweighed the cost.