I came across an interesting article regarding the Dallas ISD grading system: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/09/18/dallas.schools/index.html
This initiative stems from Dallas's high drop-out rate and is intended to offer a second chance to students who struggle within the traditional grading structure. These grading policy changes allow the student to have only those grades recorded that they want recorded and the ability to turn in homework late without penalty, among others. Obviously, this has been a contentious issue for a variety of reasons and clearly deviates from the traditional, one-size-fits-all grade structure. I found one quote particularly relevant in relation to our talk with John Tanner last week. "This is not about giving anybody any sort of free ride. What this is about is giving students a second chance to be successful," John Dahlander, a spokesman for the school district, told CNN-affiliate WFAA. John described Singapore's (I believe it was this country) system of allowing differently paced high school programs based on the individual student's abilities, interests, and aptitudes. He stressed a belief that the primary goal of education should be to seek successes for students and pointed to the Singapore system as a model to better encourage success. Will the new Dallas policy allow for increased success among those students who fall behind in the traditional system? Or will this result in a lowering of the educational bar to students for whom expectations have likely always been low? I, for one, will be very curious to hear of the results of such a radical change, and am also curious to know if any of you are familiar with this sort of policy in other districts.
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I haven't heard about this anywhere else but am very curious about it. I'm all for alternatives for students who don't fit in well with the traditional grading system, but I think measures like turning work in late with no penalty and choosing what grades you want recorded don't cross over well with the real world. A person can't tell their boss which work they submit should be useful for their job or not. If the boss wants it, it's important. Did they base this work on some study I'm missing?
I have never heard of such a thing. I'm all for innovation, but I fully expect this to fall flat. I can envision HS students becoming like PhD students who stay in school for 8 years doing work that could have been done in 4. Seriously, what if they age out before they have counted enough classes? (no offense to PhDs of course, just using the stereotype:) I also see the potential for grade inflation.
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