I noted in another posting that some teachers had reported to our friends that a principal was trying to get them to “reconsider” grades of some students so the students could stay in extra-curricular activities.
The more I have thought about this, the more disgusted I have become with it. I contacted one of the teachers and they confirmed it off the record, for fear of being labeled as a whistle-blower and having retribution taken against them. They kept documentation of both emails and written notes they took immediately after verbal conversations for self-protection.
This all begs the question: WHY DOES OUR SCHOOL BOARD HAVE MINIMUM GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES IF PRINCIPALS ARE ALLOWED TO UNDERMINE THOSE RULES AND PRESSURE TEACHERS TO CHANGE GRADES?
Grade changing for continued participation in other activities is wrong, it’s unethical by both the teacher and principal, and should be grounds for dismissal.
It does the child no good, in either the short or long run. What are we teaching them? Hey, your chance to play football is more important than grades? Hey, don’t do your work, we’ll take care of you. Wink, wink, nod, nod. Hey, if your mommy complains loudly enough we’ll change grades and you do not have to ever do your work?
We hear scandals about High Schools and Colleges that do this pathetic behavior, now apparently it is filtering down to a middle school in our county. How pathetic that teachers, principals, directors, and school boards tolerate such behavior.
SHAME ON YOU, PRINCIPAL. SHAME ON YOU, MIKE DAVIS. SHAME ON YOU, SCHOOL BOARD.
We are watching.
August 1, 2008 at 11:37 am
Update: One teacher has told me that changing grades is illegal, and that the teachers involved should have filed grievances against the Principal. Can anyone confirm if changing grades is illegal?