Thanks to the commenter who alerted us to the Jay Matthews Article with the following:
And yet a student who flunks one of those exams is usually promoted to the next grade, and the next level course, as if that hard work writing and protecting the exams meant nothing.
“The majority of my precalculus students have never passed one of these exams in either Algebra 1, Geometry or Algebra 2, all Precalculus prerequisites,” Stephens said. “Nevertheless, they proceeded to the next level. ... Students are well aware that failure, even pathetic failure, will not prevent them from going on to the next level. Most of my students have failed multiple final exams in other subjects as well, but they still earned credit for those classes.”
I really think the bigger picture is being entirely missed here.
Evidently, the only reason this info came out is because some MCPS employee leaked it to a parent. If that hadn't happened... those kids would still be thinking they were failures, there'd be no "investigation", etc. But who's to say very similar things aren't happening on an even bigger scale, throughout MCPS? It appears this has been going on for awhile, and "no one" seems to have noticed... I dread to think what else "no one" is noticing. Thank goodness for that MCPS employee that had the courage to blow the whistle on this, but I can't shake the feeling that it's even bigger than this particular dataset.
Intimidation of staff by MCPS administration tests the credibility of the whole system. Even at the due process hearing level for special education students, staff are afraid to reveal what they really believe is in the best interests of the child. The staff must balance keeping their jobs versus maintaining professional and personal integrity. I respect Ms. Munk for making such an ethical choice. A closed system will cost the taxpayers much more in the long run!
Thanks to the commenter who alerted us to the Jay Matthews Article with the following:
ReplyDeleteAnd yet a student who flunks one of those exams is usually promoted to the next grade, and the next level course, as if that hard work writing and protecting the exams meant nothing.
“The majority of my precalculus students have never passed one of these exams in either Algebra 1, Geometry or Algebra 2, all Precalculus prerequisites,” Stephens said. “Nevertheless, they proceeded to the next level. ... Students are well aware that failure, even pathetic failure, will not prevent them from going on to the next level. Most of my students have failed multiple final exams in other subjects as well, but they still earned credit for those classes.”
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/class-struggle/2010/11/top_district_lets_average_kids.html
Dr. Waste's lingering legacy
ReplyDeleteHas triggered an emergency
And requires more currency
To act with outmost urgency!
I really think the bigger picture is being entirely missed here.
ReplyDeleteEvidently, the only reason this info came out is because some MCPS employee leaked it to a parent. If that hadn't happened... those kids would still be thinking they were failures, there'd be no "investigation", etc. But who's to say very similar things aren't happening on an even bigger scale, throughout MCPS? It appears this has been going on for awhile, and "no one" seems to have noticed... I dread to think what else "no one" is noticing. Thank goodness for that MCPS employee that had the courage to blow the whistle on this, but I can't shake the feeling that it's even bigger than this particular dataset.
The MCPS employee was the Rockville Principal, Debra Munk. She's now been removed as principal and has been given a desk job.
DeleteIntimidation of staff by MCPS administration tests the credibility of the whole system. Even at the due process hearing level for special education students, staff are afraid to reveal what they really believe is in the best interests of the child. The staff must balance keeping their jobs versus maintaining professional and personal integrity. I respect Ms. Munk for making such an ethical choice. A closed system will cost the taxpayers much more in the long run!
Delete