Teachers, have you changed a failing to a passing grade due to pressure by your principal or counselor?

Question

Teachers, have you changed a failing to a passing grade due to pressure by your principal or counselor?

Answer 1

I have heard that principals do this for a number of reasons

1. To make it look as if the child is understanding their work so the school won't have to help the child thru special ed services

2. Pass the child to meet AYP.

3. Pass the child to help with NCLB scores.

All three of these reasons come down to MONEY, and to h**l with the kids.

Answer 2

No.  I would not stand for such inappropriate conduct and neither should you.

Answer 3

Pressured, me actually, no. The teacher before me, yes. She was asked to change a grade for a football player so he could play in the "big" game. She refused, but his grade was changed anyway by "someone".

Answer 4

No.  It can be difficult sometimes to say that to someone in an administrative position.  Of course, it is important to look at the underlying circumstances in the child's life; BUT, changing a grade that is justified should never happen due to pressure from people who are not in your classroom with that child.

Answer 5

No.  I have been asked, and I refused.  As a matter of fact, I was asked by two principals, and I told them both the same thing--that if it was so almighty important that the grade be changed, that they could do as they pleased after I left the building.  That way, it would be "on them" and not "on me".  It would be in their handwriting or from their computer keyboard, but that I would have a clear conscience.

Since I suspected that one principal would actually follow through and do it, I photocopied the approrpriate pages in my grade book.  Neither of them ever did.  I guess they thought their job was just as valuable as I thought mine was.

Some principals get all bent over parent pressure.  Of course, if they had liked life in the classroom, they'd still be there, wouldn't they???  I never had a principal that was a decent classroom teacher.  Strange, huh???

Answer 6

The ideal answer would be NO.But if you would give in to what is asked of you in the present situation,could you do something to help the student recover?There's always other means to help a student gain the grades required of him.let us say we need to give an extra hand.

Sometimes we need to understand that not all persons can instantly learn and pass a subject, some people need to have some space and consideration.

Just a suggestion.If you feel you can help the student reach that minimum standards before giving in to some pressure form the administration, make sure he qualifies to that standard. Of course at some degree of sacrifice and commitment on your part so as not to compromise the learning of the student.

Give a make-up classes and make-up exams until he passes the minimum standards. then rate him/her pass.No more extra grade.