No-Fail Grading?

[O'Dannyboy]

FOX news "Are 'No-Fail' Grading Systems Hurting or Helping Students?"

This is a dangerous prospect. First they take away the parents ability to exercise corporal punishment and as a result today's children have a total lack of respect for adults, even their parents. Strangely enough, despite an apparent lack of respect for authority, these new generations purportedly prefer a system of government that is more controlling of it's citizens. I find that very ironic. Now we hear of programs that seek to eliminate even the very semblance of failure in schools. Can you imagine? As if these children weren't "protected" enough now they can go through school, life even, comfortable in the knowledge they don't even have to try or care enough to improve themselves. What's also disturbing is that members of our government would like to reward this lack of ambition by removing their tax burden and possibly even giving them money in a "redistribution" of wealth. Where, I ask, is the incentive for anyone to take responsibility for their own actions? But it goes much further than that. The government has even "bailed out" failing companies who unwittingly loaned money to unqualified persons.

I was listening to a radio program Friday in which a seemingly well known economist was giving a lecture. He said something that was both hilarious and profound at the same time. He said something like "The last administration "bailed out" incompetence, now this administration is "stimulating" incompetence."

How can these newer generations learn about consequences when they are never allowed to face them let alone witness anyone else having to face them?

[Believer1997]

It's a terrible situation and I think that the kids are getting the short end of the stick... They are the ones who will not be able to compete academically. There is plenty of blame to go around - Schools who do not want to hold teachers accountable for proper instruction, legislators that propose then vote for bills to 'dumb down' education. Parents who either cannot or will not work with their children to demand that they perform to their best academic level and behave in school. I was a single mother with one in high school and one in middle school - I worked three jobs and I recall being dead tired - but we talked about every assignment and I helped with homework when it was needed. School came before sports, games, t.v. or any other extracurricular activity. My daughter worries now about the dismal public school system in the state where she lives and is concerned about where her little child will learn. Our state has one of the best public school systems in the country and I'm amazed how much it's changed since my kids left it and went on to college - I'm hiring high school seniors for part time employment who can't add, subtract or spell. It's sad. Really sad.

[forrestkc]

First off, the government has in no way taken away any parents right to spank their kids.

Secondly, I agree on the dangers of no fail grading. There are winners and losers in life, thats just the way it is, a failure is a failure regardless of whether or not its officially acknowledged.

[kat8585]

They were arguing about this in the Clinton administration.

[forrestkc]

spank a child in public, forrest, and see what happens!

A. Who wears their kid out in front of everyone? Thats just poor parenting and tacky.

B. We spank our kids.

[O'Dannyboy]

spank a child in public, forrest, and see what happens!

A. Who wears their kid out in front of everyone? That's just poor parenting and tacky.

B. We spank our kids.

Let your child or a neighbor report you to child welfare services and see how understanding they can be. It's not only in the movies. Children can, will and do use the threat of such things to keep their parent/s in line. When I was a teen I broke something of my fathers, something expensive. In a fit of anger he lifted me up and pushed me up against the fireplace and struck me on the chin with his fist. It didn't hurt but my pride was very injured. Later that night he was in jail because of me. From that point on I was more aware of my rights and less fearful.

My sister is now paying the price for her lack of discipline and over protective nature. She has had adult friends and boyfriends living with her that would attempt to correct her children and every time they did (it seems) she would undermine their authority by snapping at them in front of the children. This caused them, I think, to loose respect for those adults and as a result they have become accustomed to talking back and generally disobeying. So many "parents" want to be their children's friends rather than raising them to become adults. As a result my niece is 17 with child with no desire to finish school or get a job and continues to string her male friends along so they will buy her things. Meanwhile my nephew is failing classes and beginning to back talk the adults that live with them. It sets a bad president.

[forrestkc]

Let your child or a neighbor report you to child welfare services and see how understanding they can be. It's not only in the movies. Children can, will and do use the threat of such things to keep their parent/s in line. When I was a teen I broke something of my fathers, something expensive. In a fit of anger he lifted me up and pushed me up against the fireplace and struck me on the chin with his fist. It didn't hurt but my pride was very injured. Later that night he was in jail because of me. From that point on I was more aware of my rights and less fearful.

As a parent, nothing our kids could break would be worth me shoving or hitting them. If I did do so, and was arrested for it, I would be getting exactly what I deserved.

My sister is now paying the price for her lack of discipline and over protective nature. She has had adult friends and boyfriends living with her that would attempt to correct her children and every time they did (it seems) she would undermine their authority by snapping at them in front of the children. This caused them, I think, to loose respect for those adults and as a result they have become accustomed to talking back and generally disobeying. So many "parents" want to be their children's friends rather than raising them to become adults. As a result my niece is 17 with child with no desire to finish school or get a job and continues to string her male friends along so they will buy her things. Meanwhile my nephew is failing classes and beginning to back talk the adults that live with them. It sets a bad president.

I understand this is your sister, but I am going to just be blunt here. Your sister should be disciplining her kids herself. Thats your job as a parent. You should never be "outsourcing" the disciplining of your kids to friends or a boyfriend. Secondly, if they have no respect for her, part of it may well be that she had "boyfriends" living with her. If she has a 17 year old daughter, that has a kid already, numerous boyfriends, and no desire for finishing school, then the root of that is probably a lack of self esteem on her part, and being raised in a home where people come and go.

Basically, as a parent, you have to meet your kids physical needs such as food and shelter, provide them with love, structure, friendship, and be a mentor. A parent should be a friend to their kids. Your kids are the best friends you will ever have. However, along with that friendship there should be structure, stability, and teaching. Thats how you have the love and respect of your kids. You won't get it simply by beating it into them.

[georgedrw81]

There is sadly a systematic effort to make the next generation of adults less educated.Some nations are more advanced than others.It takes years to develop and

long time project.The dark ages in europe education was concentrated in the church and monasteries.It starts by re-moving religion class from our basic subject.

There is allways a reason for changing it.I cant see any.The school system and exams was alright when i went or my parents went.The only problem was not enough building and/or teachers.

Blessings

[OneLight]

From what I can remember, they started to "adjust" grades in the 60's to not fail so many. Then they "dumbed down" tests and classes. Now, it appears that they are now going to graduate those who absolutely do not deserve to graduate.

So ... adjust + dumb down = unqualified graduates

Seems like what they had been warned about in the 60's are finally proven to be true.

[nebula]

Try being a college professor who has to deal with students who can't write properly, can't do simple math, get mad at you for not giving them an A for showing up to class everyday (so what if they failed the test?), . . . . .