This is a companion post to the earlier one about middle school performance. In this Hour artcile, West Rocks Principal Lynne Moore is reported to have said:
West Rocks Principal Lynne Moore said she did not have data as to whether test scores have improved since the policies have been implemented.
Funny how she says that knowing that West Rocks, as reported in the other article scored the lowest.
But here’s what Norwalk teachers are saying about Corda’s proposed let’s keep them moving through the system promotion policy changes.
Some educators say the biggest problem could be a change that would promote eighth graders who fail one of four core academic subjects to high school, without requiring summer school.
“I would not be in favor of that,” said Brien McMahon High School math teacher Rebecca Vingo. “As a ninth grade teacher one of the most difficult things is making the transition from eighth grade.”
Especially in a subject like math, where lessons are cumulative, middle school education is vital, she said.“I would wonder what skills they have coming into high school if they failed a core subject,” Vingo said.
Irene Sikorski, English Department chairman at Norwalk High School, said she objected to the policies, saying they go against the high standards Norwalk seeks to maintain for its students.
“The policies are contrary to good teaching,” she said, adding that Norwalk High does not accept re-tests or late homework. “It seems as if we’re concerned so much about the self esteem, that we’re forgetting there are consequences for not doing well.”
The policies were piloted at West Rocks Middle School over the past two years, and West Rocks students achieved lower rates of proficiency on the Connecticut Mastery Test last year than did their peers at Nathan Hale Middle School — evidence that the policies don’t work, Sikorski said.
West Rocks Principal Lynne Moore said she did not have data as to whether test scores have improved since the policies have been implemented.
She said the grading and retention policies help students to feel encouraged.“What we’re trying to do is say to a kid, there’s always hope,” Moore said.
Uh, no. Hope does not mean you get to fail math or english and can continue on your merry way to high school. This is about a school system that is failing its elementary kids and passing them off to the next school in the system.
Norwalk High PTO co-president Sharon Cadden said she found fault with administrators who argue for re-tests so a student can master material while supporting promotion in spite of core subject failure.
“If the district policy is we’re trying to push for proficiency … why doesn’t that apply to eighth grade core classes?,” she said. “Why is it okay to flunk and move on? That seems like a contradiction.”
Linda Sumpter, principal of Ponus Ridge Middle School, said she understood why summer school should be optional for those failing one class — the summer program can cost several hundred dollars, putting poor and minority students at a disadvantage, she said.
“Does it make sense to retain a youngster for an entire year if they fail one subject?,” Corda said, adding that schools ought to have in place additional supports at the high school level for students who have failed.
source: The Hour, Some teachers fear proposed changes will lower standards, By AMANDA PINTO, June 19, 2007
