The new policy at the high school. If you are are failing one class you are ineligible to play or try out for any sports.
Ok.
I agree that sports are a privileged, unnecessary part of an education. Got it.
Here is where I become a parent I used to shake my head at.
This policy is wrong, I think. Here's why?
A student can get all A's , but have one F and be ineligible.
A student can get all As in AP classes or other high end classes, but one F and nope.
A student can take all easy home ec type classes get all the Ds and be eligible.
Alex has all he needs in Math for a regents diploma, but he is on the path for an advanced regents with an emphasis on Math and Science. This is not a small undertaking for Alex. He has struggled in Math since third grade.
This is what ALEX has done to pass math:
*He has gone to his math teachers personally at least three times a week on his own time at least since 6th grade.
*He has gone to the extra math center (DIC).
In addition WE have:
We have gotten him an excellent tutor ( an RIT professor ) that he goes to at least once/twice a week.
Scott has works with him .
AS you can see this is a challenge for him, but he wants this kind of diploma.
My son not passing in Trig.
Alex has played trained in sports since he was 6. LAX is his passion, Basketball is his breath. 10 years of training for a game. He is suppose to make varsity. This is what all the work has been for. This time.
I know I know what you are thinking. I have said it over and over.
NBA is probably not in his future....
but college is.
I have a University willing to give him a uniform in Nov/ Dec (of this year) and allow him to play on the college level this year to see how he does. If he does well enough- he will get
a scholarship.
50%.
That is a lot of money and will make college doable.
So I called the teacher and asked what the problem was.
The problems are not that my son was lazy, nor was it not him missing homework. The problem is he is not "getting it" and "doesn't have the foundations."
So, I called counselor and told her to pull him from the class. I told her he would take it in summer school.
No harm, no foul, right?
Nope.
Here is where I need your opinion ( if you are still reading this ramble).
The teacher got wind of my pulling him.
She decided to step in and I don't know if it is alright.
She has decided to allow Alex and two other varsity players "work " with her. She will allow them to retake the tests that they have failed. Nice right?
With her.
See they had a test. Yesterday the two others and Alex "made it up." after school. With her sitting there over their shoulders "reminding them of the process they had learned."
Not giving the exact answer just ....reminding them of the process.
It feels odd, and I don't know if it is right.
It doesn't feel right. It is pushing the limits.
It is a game.
It could be 50% off of college.
It is his future in so many ways.
Most importantly.... it is his integrity.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Athletic Policy
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6 comments:
Can they call it a practice test and he has to retake it again? I don't know, I think I'd probably still pull him if he really isn't getting it. Can he take the test to his tutor and see if it's how the question is asked or if he really doesn't get it? And there is nothing wrong with not getting it, some brains aren't wired for it. He has done such an excellent job and gotten himself up to trigonometry, I'm am in awe, really.
you're right- it doesn't sound right....like the teacher needs more kids passing than concerned about really learning the material...
Remember Saxon Math and homeschooling. Kids have the opportunity to redo all their assignments and tests to reinforce learning. I have seen this be very successful for some of my kids. We have had a teacher who made the kids make up all tests with him if they scored below 60%. Best "learning" teacher ever. It is probably in Alex's best interest unless she is a horrible teacher. You could still get him out or change him at the term to a different teacher who is maybe a better fit.
yes thank you Laurie for reminding me. I don't know her teaching style from Alex yet. I don't think HE knows yet.
I am afraid it is one of those 90210 moments where the teacher "helps" the athletes. I will keep an eye on it.
Yeah a little weird. I'd wonder if this was happening for the other failing students as well. You don't want to see him on a news story in a year. We've a had a bunch of "investigative reports" with grade changing for athletes here lately. That's not really happening since he is actually re-taking the test but I'd be concerned if it isn't offered to all who are failing. If a parent whose child is failing got wind of it- there could be trouble.
This is an interesting dilemma. In my point of view as a former teacher (and obviously a former student) learning is the priority, not grades from tests. A student getting a low grade but eventually learning the material is much more preferable to student getting a high grade and forgetting. I think if he gets special attention, but eventually learns trigonomety to the point that he can actually use it is much more important than whether or not it's fair to the other students or "orthodox". On a seconday note, the sports thing is very important for Alex. First of all for his own personal satisfaction, and a close second reason is the future potential for college scholarships. I personally think any means to him 1) learning more things that he can internalize and use in the future and 2) bettering his academic future are good things to pursue in spite of some special treatment which may not be fair (as long as no 90210 behavior is found between teacher and student.. which is probably unlikely). I do think the teacher should offer the same opportunity to any other students having trouble and willing to work more. I always offered extra credit or "re-takes" designed to help students master any material that they were having trouble with because I think the most important factor is learning rather than ranking.
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