Attn: teachers who aren't allowed to record below a certain grade...

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

...as established by the District.

You know, not allowed to record anything below a 59 (or whatever arbitrary grade determined.=).

What says you aren't allowed to?

What happens if you record a grade that is below what they say you can't?

[Unregistered]

Chocolate, good question.
OK, so in my district 64% and below is failing. If a student turns in garbage, a failing assignment, why should he get anything other than what he deserves? It goes against every fiber in my body to give him something other than what he deserves, and I would refuse to do otherwise. So, let's see what the reply is

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

also,

or is it just a situation where they "highly encourage" you not to and let you think it's a "rule"

Whenever I hear about 'rules' like this, I get very pissed off - as it doesn't hold kids accountable and when they figure out this little rule, then the only ones you get trying are the ones who get straight A's. The average students and lower simply realize they can do nothing for 3 grading periods, pull out a low D in the final term, and still pass.

Then, after the pissed where's off, I start to question the validity of the rules, if they are indeed, really rules. And if they are, what are the consequences for not abiding by them as a tenured teacher (because I know what a major consequence for the annual teacher could possibly be)

[Unregistered]

Exactly.....I suppose one could, at a job interview, ask about this "policy" and voice the opinion that it is wrong and ask what the consequences are for annual and tenured teachers if it is not adhered to. Then, if it goes against the grain too much (if there are stiff consequences----why the hell have a grading scale then?) then I suppose the interviewee could decline. But, an impressionable young teacher just getting his/her feet wet will do anything for a job. I know, I was there once. Now that I am tenured and have been for a decade +, my reaction is to stick to what I believe. Yep, why should a kid even try if he knows that his garbage is going to proffer him a passing grade anyway? It is just another example of US education gone wrong. God forbid we hold the kid responsible, we just might be bruising his "self esteem"
F*** his self esteem. My principal does not hesitate to correct me when I am wrong, and hold me responsible for my actions as a teacher. And, here's the kicker, I still have my self esteem intact. Who'd a thunk it?

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

I am BEGGING a principal who has this policy in his/her school or district to tell us what some of the consequences are for not following this 'rule'?

As a beginning teacher, I would have followed any stupid rule given in order to be asked back, but how do you get tenured teachers to follow such rules?


I fall back to my education in college where it was preached to me that the teacher's gradebook is the final say in matters of attendance, tardies, and... imagine this, grades. If an admin or guidance counselor were to go in and change my grades without my approval, I will file a complaint.

[Unregistered]

At my school, it is "highly encouraged" to not fail more than 15% of my students. Also, I am not allowed to export a grade lower than 50%. The program actually won't let me do it. There was a great teacher who taught with me and she refused to abide by the 15% rule and she was asked to leave. She was also given all the trailer classes (i.e. teaching 1st semester Algebra in the 2nd semester for the kids who failed). That is a huge reason teacher abide by the "rule" because we don't want the trailer classes. Also, for the TAKS test (the test that is the main thing that determines accountability in Texas) say you fail a student 1st semester. That student will still have to take the TAKS test which has 2nd semester material on it. As their teacher, i'm responsible for their score on that test. It determines MY accountability. So the student who doesn't know any 1st semester material is passed on in hopes that they might pick some of the material up so they can get a few more correct on that test. What actually happens is that the student gets so far behind that they start to fall through the cracks if they haven't already.

It all boils down to money. Texas is huge for giving teacher performance bonuses. If we have a low failure rate it means more performance pay for our principals.

[titansrst]

We are not allowed to fail the little darlings, even if, as was the case in my Grade 2 class, you have students who can't name the five vowels, cannot spell 3/4 of the Dolch words, cannot write a coherent sentence,...you get the picture. We are an Abbott district, which spends millions for new projects that are given only a year or two to breathe before another new program is implemented. Thus the child who averaged a legitimate 65 and who could reach proficiency with some extra work on all sides of the equation is graded equally with the child who is performing at pre-school level. Incredible!

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

well, yeah, there you have it I guess. Tenured teachers can be given shat positions.

I am Social Science certified, I suppose they could give me a 6th, 7th and 8th grade prep, the bad kids, a crappy classroom. All politics again. i didnt think about that really. It's pretty obvious I suppose if I think about it.


ahh, the fine line that politics creates...

[Unregistered]

At my middle school, I originally thought 'no grade below 50' was a rule (I was 1st year teacher), then I realized it was 'highly suggested.' During the 1st 3 quarters, I abided by the '51 and above' policy with some regrets. Grades went up anywhere from 2-10 points, with some undeserved scores. Anyways, in the 4th quarter, I decided to input zeroes in for everything except tests and projects, which I am not deadset against if they put forth half effort. I thought that my class averages were going to be lower because of the zeroes. However, class averages were pretty much the same as the first 3 quarters. Usually grades go down in quarter 4 but I was pleasantly surprised.

[musicllover]

Hi,
First time posting here, I am also a first year Special Ed teacher, I was para for years and its a WHOLE new ball game when your the teacher. I am learning every day what needs to be done, and what can't be done. I am not getting much cooperation from my teacher mostly the middle and high school teacher, and I have one elem teacher too who seems very biases against IEP students.
A lawyer told us NEVER to modify the grading scale? A modified grade scale was highly illegal, IF another parent found out they could raise quit a stink?
Just curious what anyone else understand about this.
musicllover

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Hi,
First time posting here, I am also a first year Special Ed teacher, I was para for years and its a WHOLE new ball game when your the teacher. I am learning every day what needs to be done, and what can't be done. I am not getting much cooperation from my teacher mostly the middle and high school teacher, and I have one elem teacher too who seems very biases against IEP students.
A lawyer told us NEVER to modify the grading scale? A modified grade scale was highly illegal, IF another parent found out they could raise quit a stink?
Just curious what anyone else understand about this.
musicllover



sounds like the confusion is understanding the difference between a grading rubric and grading scale.

a grading rubric can say...
Advanced class test = 4 points each
Reg ed test = 3 points each
SPED test = 2 points each

and you could use the same test

What it sounds like the lawyer is meaning, or talking about is modifying what an F is.

a 60 - 69 = D and you aren't allowed to change it and say that an SPED kid can get a 55 and it still be a D

[musicllover]

sounds like the confusion is understanding the difference between a grading rubric and grading scale.

a grading rubric can say...
Advanced class test = 4 points each
Reg ed test = 3 points each
SPED test = 2 points each

and you could use the same test

What it sounds like the lawyer is meaning, or talking about is modifying what an F is.

a 60 - 69 = D and you aren't allowed to change it and say that an SPED kid can get a 55 and it still be a D


What I was told happened before I got there, a Sp Ed. teacher would add one or two of a students to the final grades to keep the students from recieving flunking grades. It wasn't anything serious like adding enough points that the student got a A, but enough was added that the student might recieve a D and not an F. When I checked into this I found that it is illegal. I'm not sure where the idea came from that IEP student can't flunk, but I know when my daughter was placed in Special Ed several years ago, I was told by the Sp Ed teacher that she could not be held back, becuase she had an IEP. :confused:I need to do some research on this through my state ed. dept and what my schools policies are. They must believe in retaining IEP students cause I have a student right now who has flunked twice with an IEP so maybe it depends on the school districts policies.