Thursday, April 7, 2016

Judging students success

On Wednesday during Mr. Stewart's 2nd period, we were discussing why and how do they decide who to sent to alta.  The issue is that there are three types of students who receive the same or similar amount of tardies and absences and receive different "punishments"
1) they receive the letter home warning them that if they reach 15 absences and tardies combined, they will be sent to alta or saturday school BUT they keep missing classes but they NOTHING EVER HAPPENS TO THEM.
2) they receive the same letter as person 1, and after missing one more class they automatically get sent to alta.  
3) they miss the same amount of tardies and absences as person 1 & 2, but they never  get the letter sent home

So, if they all have almost the same amount of tardies/absences what exactly adds to decide who goes and who doesn't?
Everyone, including myself, thought that they were sent to alta if they had a bad reputation and bad grades.

But then Mr. Stewart broke the "secret." He said that the administration asks the student's teachers  if they believe they will pass their class? Obviously if the teacher sees that the students doesn't have the possibility to pass their class, they will sent the student to alta because there is  no point for them being here if they get too many tardies and aren't passing their classes.

so the question is, why do they send home a letter warming the students based on their attendance? when the administration makes the decisions based on the grades.    

5 comments:

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  3. I totally agree with you 100%.
    That is quite confusing. I feel like your success in a certain class should be way more important than attendance.
    I know some students that have horrible attendance but are still passing a class. I wonder what an administrator would say if you presented these points.

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  4. I agree with Paul. I don't see why people get sent to Alta based on their attendance. Its like they are telling them that their attendance is more important their success in class. I find it quite dumb.

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  5. Yes, there is a lot of unfairness when it comes to the tardy and absence policy. Sadly, I am a first hand offender when it comes to tardies and absences. We all joke about it when we have 50+ tardies but then when you see the kids that have 20 tardies and they're being sent to Alta, it definitely throws you for a loop. I didn't understand why this was but I think it makes sense with the whole grades thing. If a kid still is pulling off school but has a few absences I don't think it's an issue. Although, when a ripple affect begins where the tardies are affecting grades and other matters is when Alta should be the alternative. If Alta was strictly based on attendance than half a quarter of the school would be there.

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