Principals Support No Zeros

[cybercoma]

Really? Can you score a zero?

Look up PISA.

[punked]

Again, it's the myth of objective quantitative data. If the yardstick is numbers, then they will make the numbers look favourable by any means necessary. That's only one small part of what I'm talking about. There is no giant conspiracy to make administrators look awesome. It would be stupid to implement a "no zero" policy then point to the fact that the students aren't getting zeroes as a measurement of their achievements as admins. Your cynicism is getting the better of you here I'm afraid.

No it really isn't. This is something I see happening in my local school board where I live. They set goals like in 5 years we will have a 90% graduation rate with no failures. Then change policy to make the goal achievable by no other means then grade inflation. It is happening across this country and it isn't good for us.

[socialist]

We could agree if this is why these policies go in place. However this is not the reason these policies go in place. If this was the reason teachers would support it. Teachers do not, this is something being put on them from someone above them. Why? Well because if you can less students are failing as a Principal, School Board member, or Education Minster it reflects well on you. Students however aren't failing less because their behaviors are changing or they are giving more. They are failing less because we are asking less of them. That is a recipe for a dumb nation and that is wrong. It is bad policy in favor of good politics and that is not something we need in this country.

Actually, your post is very accurate. High School graduation rates are a very KEY statistic these days. Whether they are graduating by taking hard courses, or just being pushed through, there is no difference on the high school diploma. Things have been dumbed down throughout much of Canada, no question. Most people are too stupid to realize it because they like hearing their kids are doing well, and with less rigorous education, there is more time for "other" things.

[kraychik]

I stand by my view that the course grade should simply be based on the math. Sum up the total points the student earned, divide by the total points possible, and there you have your % grade for the course.

What a shocking and controversial proposition! Revolutionary!

Contrast that to the "progressive" cybercoma's proposition:

So why are grades even necessary? If you challenge yourself to think about it, a valid argument could be made that grades are completely unnecessary. You don't need to test students to gather information on how they're doing.

I stopped reading his post right there. It is impossible to have any sort of serious discussion on these matters when the other side is genuinely advocating not only a "no-zeroes" policy, but a complete abolition of any form of testing, whatsoever. This is how deep leftism is in our society.

[Michael Hardner]

I stopped reading his post right there. It is impossible to have any sort of serious discussion on these matters when the other side is genuinely advocating not only a "no-zeroes" policy, but a complete abolition of any form of testing, whatsoever. This is how deep leftism is in our society.

Krahchik - you really need to open your mind a little more. This forum is for progressive discussion of ideas - regardless of with whom. Probably half of the posters here are leftists by your criteria. If you don't want to discuss ideas openly with them then this forum probably isn't for you.

[kraychik]

Krahchik - you really need to open your mind a little more. This forum is for progressive discussion of ideas - regardless of with whom. Probably half of the posters here are leftists by your criteria. If you don't want to discuss ideas openly with them then this forum probably isn't for you.

Nobody's forcing you to read my posts, let alone reply to me. Alternatively, there's a red 'x' in the top right corner of your browser screen which you can use at any time.