Do you believe in social promotion 'no one left behind'?

1. 60

   aoiffe379posted 15 years ago

   Do you believe in social promotion 'no one left behind'?
   
   At the school where I teach there has been a heated debate. Two 11th graders did not achieve the 2.00 GPA standard; and they will most likely not reach it in time for graduation. yet, they will be promoted to Grade 12. Among those 'left behind' is a 15 going on 16 student in Grade 8 and a 17 going on 18 student in Grade 10.Is it more important for a child to move with his peers even if he is failing; or should he be retained in the same grade so that he can get a better grasp of subjects he failed?if exceptions are made for one, should this exception apply to all?

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2. 77

   Galadriel Arwenposted 15 years ago

   I personally believe that the fact that so many children are failing in school is not their fault but a systemic issue. Most of our school systems have been geared to provide "negative reinforcement" instead of "positive reinforcement" to students. Thus the ones who misbehave receive notoriety and they enjoy their names being written on the board. The students who excel and behave go without applaud. There is no reason for excellence except if the children have inner drive. Many are not so fortunate! When I taught school, I convinced the principle that the general way of teaching to the test and using negative reinforcement in the class was not behaviorally sound. I wrote all the students names on the board and they were erased if they misbehaved. It was interesting to note that the students who were historically disruptive altered their behavior and worked hard in class in order to again receive the applaud {name on the board] they had previously received without effort. Teaching to some obscure testing system is not effective. We need to teach our students to survive in the environment. We have not been doing a very good job!

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3. 60

   aoiffe379posted 15 years ago

   I agree wholeheartedly with you, Galadriel Arwen. Thanks for the name on the board technique. That will be a new twist as my classes are small.

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4. 59

   Wealthmadehealthyposted 15 years ago

   Unfortunately, I do not believe in promoting anyone who has not completed the requirements to be promoted...The ones who are failing and falling behind are either having challenges at home, or are slow learners....To everyones chagrin, there is not enough help in the "school system" to keep the slow ones abreast of what they are trying to learn....furthermore, I think the schools are trying to teach too much too soon....Of course I have been out of school for a long time, but if I did not do the work, I did not pass the class.....
   
   But again, I was not laden down with so many books to take home and study either..I think this is the schools fault for trying to push the students further than is necessary...The parents are a lot at fault as well....look how the younger people act nowadays....point in case, I had a teenage boy who just wandered into my yard with his dog for no reason and I asked him to take his dog home and leave my yard and I was called a B--ch....Well,  how do you think he acts in school???   
   
   Is this from parental challenges or peer....Noone knows, but noone should be promoted unless they are ready...This is a good question with many answers to come I am sure....

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5. 55

   kvidposted 14 years ago

   This is a situation where one asks...."how did this kid get this far?"
   When there is evidence of a failing student it needs to be caught early and tutoring, strong support for helping the student to gain a greater understanding of material through after school assistance and even weekend help. There must be better programs that could possibly offer more one on one help for these few students. Mentoring services might also help. They obviously are not getting the subject matter in a traditional classroom.

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6. 0

   Helpful Hannaposted 14 years ago

   In real life we don't get chance after chance after chance.  Some of us do get left behind, if we can't keep up (socially or professionally).  Shouldn't we teach our children this rather than shielding them from reality?

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