Replies

I teach high school science, and I agree with you. My third track chemistry students are required to pass chem to graduate, but most of them are not really capable of making the connections or doing the math. It's very frustrating for them and for me. Most do their best, but it's only by 'cooking the books' that many of them pass the course. Many would be better served by a vocationally oriented course where they could learn skills that they will actually use. I don't like to pretend, but if they are working hard and truly not equipped to understand, I can't in good conscience fail 2/3 of the class. Inflexible policies put many people into situations which lead to dishonest grading and waste of time and resources.

By today's standards I would not have made it out of high school. I was class of 1976. The Voc/Tech movement was just starting to take off in my state at that point. My high school Voc/Tech training got me the job in the Navy I wanted and made training me for it once I got to the ship a lot faster than ones I later trained who had no training. I also did well in history except when I got a draw a map loving teacher LOL. Science? I was walking around with a pocket transistor radio I had build myself. Chemistry? Uh OK I made wine in my bedroom :>} {a major offense today} Gym? I couldn't do too well especially in the required mile run. I could swim all day though and could have likely out hiked the Gym Teacher LOL.

By today's standards I would not have made it out of high school.

You probably would have graduated. Standards are handed down from admin (or the state), but in most schools teachers can't fail too many kids because it doesn't look good. Some students can meet the standards and have the drive to really do well. Many others are socially promoted over the years, and graduate with limited academic or practical skills. It isn't right but it won't be fixed at the high school level. It means that we have to be willing to fail kids at the elementary school level and to provide whatever remediation they need to get on grade level. It runs counter to our 'feel good' culture and also forces us to acknowledge that children do not all have the same ability and drive to succeed in school.