The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that public school officials in that city have a policy “that sets 50 percent as the minimum score a student can receive for assignments, tests and other work.” The policy has been around for a while; it’s drawn recent attention only because of efforts to reduce it to writing and make it mandatory for all schools in the Pittsburgh district.
Unsurprisingly, the “district and teachers union last week issued a joint memo to ensure staff members’ compliance with the policy, which was already on the books but enforced only at some schools. Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President John Tarka said the policy is several years old.” (Emphasis added.)
This is the best possible policy for a lazy administrators and teachers — abolition of failing grades makes their work far easier – one doesn’t have to lift students so far toward average competency.
I’d say all of this is an aberration, but similar policies exist or are considered seriously elsewhere.
In our own city — apart from our schools — our municipal administration is one step away from a version of this approach. While Pittsburgh schools do not recognize failing grades, we do not recognize failed policies. It’s all happy and good, all the time.
I have teased that this administration’s slogan should be Whitewater: Where the Only News is Good News. (Whether leaders of the city were educated in Pittsburgh, I cannot say.)
This is where self-interest leads, treacly claims of public service notwithstanding — to a cheerleader’s view that ignores actual conditions, making it easier for political leaders and incumbents to do less while boasting more.