Teacher’s Final Say on Grades

I read your article (April 14), “Bill Would Promise Teachers Final Say on a Student Grade.”

Since I am the teacher involved in the Granada Hills High School case cited in the article, I feel that I am entitled to equal time, since you chose to quote only the principal’s remarks.

“This kid was unfairly treated,” claims the principal, Albert Irwin. “He was in a class where he shouldn’t have been.” If the student was unfairly treated, then it was by the counseling and health staffs of the school, by the principal, and by the mother of the student.

Irwin justifies his action by saying that the student has a learning disability. His comment implies that I was the insensitive party in the case in giving the student a failing grade. If the student did in fact have a learning disability, then how could he have been allowed to spend the entire semester in my class? Why was I not informed of any disability by any of the staff, the principal, or even the mother, with whom I had several phone conversations? Her only concern was that her son play in the band.

Irwin’s comment is just a cover-up. I was certainly aware that the student was one of the slower learners, but in my estimation, he was perfectly capable of earning a passing grade had he put forth a minimum of effort. His failure was not the result of a learning disability, but rather the result of laziness.

Irwin goes on, “But I erred in not notifying the teacher of the change (of grade.)” Irwin also erred in being negligent in checking the facts before arbitrarily and unilaterally expunging the grade.

The proposed bill is a good one. After all, it is the teacher who spends 20 weeks with the student and who is qualified to judge his/her performance. Barring error or extreme cases, the teacher is professionally competent to assess his/her student’s performances.

Sports and other extracurricular activities are important, but participation should not be contingent upon a student’s performance in academic classes. If an educationally handicapped child’s only ability is that he/she can play a musical instrument, or throw a football, then he/she should not be penalized because he/she cannot do well in an academic subject.

Unfortunately, our system of education does not distinguish between academic ability and sports ability as is the case in most other countries. It is no wonder that we are faced with all the cheating and grade changes that occur in the universities. Now it is seeping down to the high school level.

NORMAN A. NERO

Granada Hills