Pittsburgh Public Schools Institute Low-Grade Policy, Won’t Allow Grades Below 50%
Oh, and if you fail in Pittsburgh you don’t get an “F.” You get an “E.”
Pittsburgh Public Schools officials say they want to give struggling children a chance, but the district is raising eyebrows with a policy that sets 50 percent as the minimum score a student can receive for assignments, tests and other work.
The district and teachers union last week issued a joint memo to ensure staff members’ compliance with the policy, which was already on the books but enforced only at some schools. Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President John Tarka said the policy is several years old.
While some districts use “F” as a failing grade, the city uses an “E.”
“The ‘E’ is to be recorded no lower than a 50 percent, regardless of the actual percent earned. For example, if the student earns a 20 percent on a class assignment, the grade is recorded as a 50 percent,” said the memo from Jerri Lippert, the district’s executive director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, and Mary VanHorn, a PFT vice president.
Right. Because we wouldn’t want the little darlings to ever fail at something, and maybe learn something from that failure. Like how to get better and not fail.
No, it’s much more important to protect their feelings. Because nothing says “preparing children for the real world” like protecting them from failure.
