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A friend was telling me about a professor at a high-level college who gave every one of his students an "A".
I cringed.
Another professor letting students slide. Ugh.
But then she went on to explain. He gave everyone an "A" in his class, but they had to keep re-doing every assignment until it was "A" quality. They didn't have to take the "A". They could settle for a "B" or "C" or any other grade. But every one of them had an opportunity to receive an "A" in his class, if they so desired.
It makes for a lot of work on the teacher... but just think if every one of our kids was given that same opportunity. Instead of testing a kid at the end of the year and then holding him back for failing the TAKS (state standardized tests), he would be given the opportunity on EVERY assignment throughout the year to correct his paper until it was "A" level work.
It's not a cop-out. In a scenario like that, the kids (and the teacher) have to work very hard to ensure that every child knows what they're doing. It also makes it easier (for the teacher and the child) later in the year because once the kids master their skill, it doesn't take as much time to grade. So the work load would be up front.
If everyone participated in that philosophy, there would be a lot fewer students graduating from high school taking remediation classes in colleges. A diploma might mean something. Grades might mean something. It might change the way we look at education.
We might be able to guarantee the value of a high school diploma.
Published April 15, 2009 by Janet Morrison |
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College
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