The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Parent rebukes U-46 over specific grading process

By Seth Hancock
  A mother rebuked School District U-46 for its grading system which strips students of personal responsibility.
  Mary Clue spoke, via phone, during public comments at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, April 26.
  On the district’s website, it states there was a change to secondary grading based on “the varying needs of our students during this pandemic.” The change applies to students in full-year courses and means a student’s failing grade in the first semester can become a passing grade.
  “This means that if a student passes the course with an A, B, C, or D at the end of second semester, their first semester grade for that course will be updated to list that same second semester grade,” the website states.
  Ultimately, this means a student can get an F which can become an A, if they receive one second semester, thus perverting GPAs.
  “May I ask, what is our intention as a school district? Are we trying to look good for the state that we are passing everybody that should not pass, are we trying to just get more kids through our system without failing or are you going to tell us that it is the equitable thing to do?” Clue asked.
  Clue added: “We are teaching our kids that their actions have no consequences. We are telling our teachers that we do not value all the work they put in. We are telling our parents, all the stress and anxiety and fighting with our kids for the last semester to do their work was all for nothing. We are telling the world, do not worry if you sat and did nothing for the first half of the year. At least you did something the second half, so here’s a trophy.”
  There was no response offered by the board to Clue’s remarks.