| We have to ask ourselves what we are assessing | | | | You might find a lawyer who aced the bar exam |
| when we give a child a failing grade. This is a hot | | | | but who has lousy ethics. They are separate |
| topic amongst homeschoolers who tend to take a | | | | issues. The lawyer might be fantastic in the |
| critical view of the school system. Schools are | | | | courtroom. You still may not want to hire this |
| reluctant to assign a failing grade to young children | | | | person because of poor character, but that |
| and I have heard many parents bemoan the fact | | | | doesn't change the fact that he or she is good at |
| that kids are getting away with something by not | | | | the job. |
| failing. They see it as missing a natural | | | | I have struggled with this issue for years because |
| consequence for their behavior. But is it the | | | | I thought the same way as many people, "How |
| school's job to assess behavior? | | | | does not getting an F prepare the child for the |
| Let's say the subject is LA and the project is to | | | | 'real world'? The answer is that it doesn't |
| write a paragraph. If the child doesn't do it, we | | | | necessarily and nor does it have to. |
| might give her an F grade. Are we saying that | | | | The school can't be everything to everyone and |
| she cannot write a paragraph or that she is lazy? | | | | cover all the bases. They have a specific mandate |
| Are we giving her an F in skill or in effort? Maybe | | | | and that is to teach subject matter and skills. It is |
| she has a bad disposition. so are we are giving her | | | | not the school's job to instill morality and ethics in |
| an F in attitude? Let's say she hands it in two | | | | our kids; that's still our job, whether or not we |
| weeks late. Do we give her an F for not having | | | | homeschool. It's up to parents and the church to |
| the assignment in on time? But suppose that it is | | | | teach morals, ethics, behavior, life skills, etc. I think |
| an A paper? Now, is the F because she cannot | | | | that it's unfair to put all of that on the school |
| meet the student learning outcome of writing a | | | | system and to criticize them for a crumbling |
| paragraph or is she getting an F in time | | | | society. We all bear responsibility. |
| management? | | | | To be fair, the school must assess student |
| Therein lies the problem. The school's job is to | | | | learning outcomes. If a child can write a perfect |
| teach the subject matter and there are certain | | | | paper but hands it in three weeks late, the school |
| student learning outcomes that must be met. The | | | | must assess whether or not the child can write a |
| child should be able to write a sentence, use | | | | paper, not whether or not he or she is responsible |
| periods at the end of sentences, write a | | | | and manages time well. |
| paragraph, etc. Schools assign work so that | | | | When kids tick us off and we want to teach |
| children can demonstrate that they are able to | | | | them a lesson, we have the power to give them |
| meet the objectives. Whether or not the child is | | | | a failing grade, but to be fair to them and to our |
| lazy, has a bad attitude or poor time | | | | system, we must ask the question, "What are |
| management is beside the point. | | | | we really grading with this F? |