Bad Stats? Just Lower Standards!
By Greg L | 20 June 2007 | Manassas Park | 9 Comments
This must be the week for inanity in Manassas Park.
The Manassas Park School Board, upset that they’re listed with the highest dropout rate in the area, has decided that the way to address the problem isn’t to teach students how to pass exams, but to loosen standards in order to not “discourage” students who may later drop out by holding them back in the ninth grade. The target course for this policy update is, quite predictably, English.
For more on this, see the Journal-Messenger article. Here’s a quote:
“The good news is we’re not changing the finish line,” Bruce McDade, associate superintendent for curriculum and technology, said at the meeting.
But, now failing only the English class will not cause students to be held back, he said.
Students who fail English have been, and will still be, encouraged to take the course during summer school, to catch up with the rest of their classmates.
The policy change will benefit both the students and the school division, McDade said.
“It does harm children if you hold them back because they failed one class,” McDade said, adding that children who are held back often feel “discouraged.”
How they ever managed to retain John Cleese to write their talking points I cannot imagine. Given all this poor performance, they’d justly deserve some acknowledgment for landing such talent on their team.
Our student’s English scores are pining for the fjords
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I am not surprised!! Wonder how many of those failing English are hispanics???
They are doing way to many “feel good” things for the students and are doing way more harm than good. Kids today have no idea what compitition is. Everything is about fair. Wait until they get out in the real world!
Also they are doing a lot of weird grading practices to bring up students grades, like, bring back the report card signed is an A, weekly study guides signed by parents is an A. Come on, focus on teaching my child!!! Oh, and if my kid brings home one more word seach puzzle for homework I am going to scream!!!
compitition?
Did you skip englash class
How long will it be before MP schools automatically graduate students without any standards?
illegal immigration has not had a negative impact on our Country. The very reason why many Central American Countries are in their current situation is because poor public education systems. Yet, MP seems to think adopting policies that only take into account illegals is fine for everyone.
How many other policies will be adopted for the convenience of illegals? From law enforcement to banking to school standards it seems only the feelings and well being of illegals are being considered.
Come on Anonymous…YOU never forgot spell check? I know I have.
Anonymous…………..
I slept through that class.
Citizenofmanassas ………….. illegal immigration has not had a negative impact on our Country??? Sorry, I beg to differ. I lived in MP for 16 years then moved to PWC. Illigals are affecting our county just as much as MP, in our school systems and our neighborhoods. Don’t believe for a second that we are safe or better off.
Karin,
That was ment to be a sarcastic comment, but I edited my post and did not realize I took out the follow up line that would have left no doubt as to what I was trying to say… Illegal immigration has not had a negative impact on out Country. So say those that do support it.
Now, you realize that this is going to be necessary regardless of the illegal alien population, given the fact that Manassas Park is planning on putting most of it’s budget for education into “The Park’s Taj Mahal.” This will only make good sense…trade off education for monuments to the egos of the town fathers. At least it seems to make good sense to some people.
I don’t know if you realize but the standards are different from student to student in m.p. schools. only 40.1% of the senior class actually walked the stage for graduation on June 9th. For one reason or another many of the kids were told the last week before graduation! This is ridiculous! Summer school letters go out a month before school lets out but if they are to graduate they don’t say anything till a few days before?! Come on MP! The schools only focus is sols they no longer teach. sols were supposed to be a good thing to see where kids were, now the focus is the sols.
MP doesn’t count dropouts, or kickouts in their senior statistics, or the kids they have decided need a class in summer school. stop hiding the facts I say!
well the summer graduation of seniors only had 9 kids graduate. what happened to the rest of the kids that did not walk in june?