This is yet another article critiquing our school and its policies. Here’s the problem. If a student isn’t on level, they can be put on the “no pass list.” The list is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a list of students who can’t have a pass to leave any class.
This sounds like a reasonable punishment for not putting forth one’s best efforts, but much like the Media Center conundrum, it only handicaps the students so that they can’t get back on a reasonable level.
If problem students decide to turn their personality and behavior around, they’ll face great difficulty. The school system is actually more helpful when it comes to getting off level than getting on. Sure, the students can do classwork and homework in which the needed information is successfully taught and no outside resources are needed, but if they need our Media Center, they don’t get to visit it. Why would you keep a student that is already behind from using a room built for work? Is it further punishment or is it worry that the students are likely to use the pass to go elsewhere?
The school had a remedy for this problem. “Pass Advisory” was a hands-on approach to getting students on level. The Pass Advisory I had last year had computers in the room. Pass Advisory allowed students the time and resources to complete any work that was due.
This failed, however, because the students spent a good portion of their time filling out pamphlets asking them to list off their goals, what they had accomplished, and how they felt about Pass Advisory (rather than working and studying). I would like to read those pamphlets.
Also, the idea of putting all of the school’s worst (for lack of a better term) students in the same room doesn’t exactly pan out. The behavioral issues of a few can ruin the focus of the rest.
Just let the students go to the Media Center. The teachers could call the media center and tell them the aforementioned students are on their way. If they don’t arrive by an agreed upon time, they’re marked as truant.
Another problem with all of this “Off level” stuff is the fact that taking all privileges away from a student, including dances, games, and other assemblies, is that it just alienates the student. Alienation isn’t the type of motivation needed to make a student start trying harder. It’s just discouraging.
We should keep the level system, but modify it until it’s as perfect as can be. There is no need to start from scratch.