[Beagle8U]

"If 89% of the kids in a class pass, with the same teacher, why is it the fault of the teacher if 11% don't pass, when they are in the same class, receiving the same instruction? Now, if most of a particular teacher's classes fail, that is different."

The problem should be caught long before graduation though.

If the principal or superintendent is forcing teachers to pass failing students, they need to be fired.

No business in the world could operate for long being run like the public schools are. Tax payers are getting tired of funding a failed system, they either solve the problems or they will be replaced with a voucher system and private schools.

If they just sit back and demand more money their jobs and teachers pensions will be worth as much as those of Enron.

[NCLaw441]

I absolutely agree with your assertions. First, the tests are FAR from demanding. Apparently many 9th graders pass it. But if 89% of the kids pass, it probably is NOT the teaching, unless the 11% come from the same schools, year after year, and those schools have an extremely high fail rate. Parents have a duty to follow the progress of their children. It is not that hard to do. Start with the report card. Look at homework grades. Ask what the child is doing in school. We all know why these kids aren't making it. Their parents don't really care. They may say they care, but they don't.

[VictoryGal]

> The problem should be caught long before graduation though.

Yes.

> If the principal or superintendent is forcing teachers to pass failing students, they need to be fired.

Yes, BUT... EVEN IF the school pushes the kids ahead when they don't deserve it, the parents should STILL KNOW when their kids are behind:

1. Aren't they checking the kids grades? Don't they at least have to sign off on report cards? If they aren't, shouldn't they be wondering why they aren't?
2. Don't they meet with their teachers at least once a term?
3. Don't they have a dialog with their kid about the schoolwork, homework, and projects they're doing? At least once a week or once a month?

This is all stuff a good parent who actually TAKES RESPONSIBILITY for their kid does. If the first clue they have that their precious spawn is not doing their job in school is that they fail the freakin HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM, they are NEGLIGENT, LAZY, OR STUPID PARENTS.

Get it?