Or they could work on policies that reward significant improvement throughout the year. A rough start can be just that. Mandating that everything is at least 50%, even when a student gets a 0%, is a terrible idea.
Really, I have no problem with a "lousy start" policy of some sort, but to guarantee 50% while other students are giving and earning 100% annoys me to no end. How about simply this, guarantee that all quizzes and tests can be made up after hours (before/after class) that were taken in the first half of the semester for a maximum score of 80% of the total points awarded (gotta at least give a small late bloomer penalty)? Higher of the 2 scores will apply. Thoughts there?
Cool, now if I'm really good in that subject (math comes to mind), I can just skip the entire first half of each semester and still get a B in the class!
Ever taken a math class... generally you can't skip the first half (fundamentals) and pass the second half (more advanced stuff). And while that might not motivate students to "be your best!", if the student is smart enough to pull that off... well I guess being smart does have benefits!
In my high school, there was a kid in the class that graduated the year before my class came in as freshman who only showed up to classes for quizes and tests all four years. He graduated with a B or B- average.
After he graduated and it was brought to the attention of parents and school administrators, a new rule was put in place that any student absent from a class more than a certain number of days during the year (I think it was 20 or so) for any reason could (at the discretion of the teacher) be failed.
In my high school, there was a kid in the class that graduated the year before my class came in as freshman who only showed up to classes for quizes and tests all four years. He graduated with a B or B- average.
That's not an example of a school failing to challenge a student. That's an example of a lazy student. Maybe he's a smart slacker, but at the end of the day, he's still just a slacker. What the hell does it matter if he's smart if he won't apply himself?
But why should you work hard at school if you can get by like this? I know of no school that has the time and resources to challenge students like that one. If I were him I'd be somewhere else than at school too, working on problems that interest and challenge me. Who says this kid was doing nothing while not at school?
Because there might be some reason to achieve a little bit more than "getting by"? At school certainly there is a big incentive to put in a little bit of effort to get top marks rather than just passing, because if you're one of the people who can do that you're probably going to carry on to university. It reminds me a lot of the stories you see every year around exam results time about some 12yr old getting a C in A-level maths or whatever. I am not impressed, either a) get top marks, or b) don't take the
I am not impressed, either a) get top marks, or b) don't take the exam early, you're not clever enough.
Working on the reasonable assuption that he didn't know what grade he was going to get in advance, maybe he thought he was going to get an A? Even a C is more than most people will get, at any age. Indeed, it's what I got.
My actual grades were way off the predictions - some over, some under.
I know of no school that has the time and resources to challenge students like that one.
If the school doesn't have "gifted and talented" or "advanced placement" classes (and they should), or if those aren't challenging enough, skip the kid up a grade. Or two. Or send him off for classes at the local community college.
He got a B. clearly he could ahve applied himself more. Or taken harder courses. Or taken college courses. If school is truly easy for you, you have many opportunities.
What if the school is the highest you can go to? And what is the reward for getting an A instead of a B? Nothing, except in the final exams, because you have a better chance of getting on the university you want with A's on your final tests. If you can get a B with doing nothing in the classes before the last class, I take it you can get A's in the exams, and that's what counts.
Disobedience: The silver lining to the cloud of servitude.
-- Ambrose Bierce
Or more reasonable policies (Score:5, Insightful)
Or they could work on policies that reward significant improvement throughout the year. A rough start can be just that. Mandating that everything is at least 50%, even when a student gets a 0%, is a terrible idea.
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Cool, now if I'm really good in that subject (math comes to mind), I can just skip the entire first half of each semester and still get a B in the class!
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Re: (Score:5, Insightful)
In my high school, there was a kid in the class that graduated the year before my class came in as freshman who only showed up to classes for quizes and tests all four years. He graduated with a B or B- average.
After he graduated and it was brought to the attention of parents and school administrators, a new rule was put in place that any student absent from a class more than a certain number of days during the year (I think it was 20 or so) for any reason could (at the discretion of the teacher) be failed.
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That's not an example of a school failing to challenge a student. That's an example of a lazy student. Maybe he's a smart slacker, but at the end of the day, he's still just a slacker. What the hell does it matter if he's smart if he won't apply himself?
As Edison said, genius is 1% inspiration and 9
Re:Or more reasonable policies (Score:5, Insightful)
But why should you work hard at school if you can get by like this? I know of no school that has the time and resources to challenge students like that one. If I were him I'd be somewhere else than at school too, working on problems that interest and challenge me. Who says this kid was doing nothing while not at school?
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Working on the reasonable assuption that he didn't know what grade he was going to get in advance, maybe he thought he was going to get an A? Even a C is more than most people will get, at any age. Indeed, it's what I got.
My actual grades were way off the predictions - some over, some under.
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If the school doesn't have "gifted and talented" or "advanced placement" classes (and they should), or if those aren't challenging enough, skip the kid up a grade. Or two. Or send him off for classes at the local community college.
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He got a B. clearly he could ahve applied himself more. Or taken harder courses. Or taken college courses. If school is truly easy for you, you have many opportunities.
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What if the school is the highest you can go to? And what is the reward for getting an A instead of a B? Nothing, except in the final exams, because you have a better chance of getting on the university you want with A's on your final tests. If you can get a B with doing nothing in the classes before the last class, I take it you can get A's in the exams, and that's what counts.