[max americana]

” He said students coming in don’t know basic fractions -”

Worse than that. He mentioned simple arithmetic, they’re clueless. In order to weed out these idiots and not waste his time, he jacks up the difficulty in his tests and fails a lot. His rep there is that he’s an a-hole but it’s done with good intentions to cover up his real mission which is to fail the
public school morons.

[Svartalfiar]

In order to weed out these idiots and not waste his time, he jacks up the difficulty in his tests and fails a lot.

I really think that's how the grade-level testing should be. Maybe 20% easy, prior-grade questions. 40% grade-level material. 40% advanced material. Students should be expected to score in the 50-60% range.

But for school in general, yes, they need to actually fail students. Pushing them ahead when they aren't meeting the lower standard doesn't do anyone any good. And if they can't pass a grade in two/three attempts, then move that student to a special education school to determine why they aren't passing, and how to resolve the issue. Letting them move ahead just to get them out/improve "pass rates" hurts the kid, the next teacher, and prevents classmates from advancing as fast as they should.