success and failure

Next year, Gadsden High School will be piloting their 9th grade academy. In an effort to promote excellence, responsibility and achievement, We will be segregating the incoming 9th graders from the other students, and then helping them achieve the standards set for 9th grade in hopes that will also help them be successful throughout the rest of their high school program, and then through life, where ever that may take them. I think the academy will have a positive influence on our students and our school. I'm excited to see it happen, and willing to work towards it's success.

A few days ago, When the inevitable end of semester grading instructions were put in our boxes, there was a new paragraph added since last semester. This year, if a student doesn't show up for the final, we are still to enter a grade of 50% into the computer grading program. There is a reason for this, but it isn't a very good one, in my opinion. Thanks to whomever(s) decision it was, the program is set up not to take any grade below 50%. Earn a 45%, enter a 50%... earn a 12%, enter a 50%. As of now, on the final, even if you don't show up, you get 50%. Amazing, isn't it? As with other grades, teachers record in their grade books the percentage that the students earn, and average accordingly, so a failure is a failure... well, maybe unless a parent raises a stink, and then administrators average by that 50% because that is - after all - the "official" grade. Of course it gripes teachers. It sure gripes, me. I believe it also sends a very bad message about what our school and district believes about academic excellence and integrity.