A Failure of Trust

The 650 capped-and-gowned teenagers who will be graduated from Diamond Bar High School tonight have many reasons to be proud. Well more than half will attend college--many at some of the finest schools in the country--and the class has helped the school win numerous academic and athletic honors.

But teachers at the school believe that some members of this year’s class missed a crucial lesson in responsibility, and that the school district has flunked a test of character.

Several seniors will receive diplomas despite failing required courses. Without their teachers’ knowledge, 17 students were allowed by the school district to earn credit for their failed subjects in an eleventh-hour makeup program last week, an option that eight seniors completed.

The move has outraged many teachers, and as of Wednesday 70 of the school’s 114 instructors had signed a letter saying their “efforts have been subverted,” and they may take legal action against the Walnut Valley Unified School District. “It does not matter that the teachers and school have standards; the district does not,” the letter states.

The row comes at a time when social promotion policies are under attack and academically competitive high schools obsess over numerical performance measures.

By such measures, Diamond Bar High stands out. It has been recognized as a distinguished school by the state Department of Education. Its average SAT score of 1,072 is higher than state and national averages and last year about 25% of its graduates entered the University of California system.

But English teacher Debbie Branham, who failed three students, said that by allowing students the last-minute makeup work, the district has “lowered standards to appease parents. They’re trying to say we have a 100% graduation rate. They’re pressured a lot to look like the No. 1 school.”

Stephanie Mendez, an English teacher who failed five students, said that by not sticking to standards, the district has “knocked the wind out of us. Nothing we stand for seems to matter. What’s to motivate a kid to come to class for a whole semester when they can just show up for a few days in June?” she asked.

Walnut Valley Unified Supt. Ron Hockwalt said that when failing grades were issued last week, students were allowed to enter a special course in the district’s adult education program. Those who completed 60 hours of course work and passed examinations received credit for the classes they had failed during the semester and will graduate with their class.

English teacher Mendez, however, said teachers were never told that students would get such a chance. “I wouldn’t have agonized and lost sleep last weekend over the kids I failed if I knew they were going to be able to come in and make up a semester over a weekend,” she said.

Mendez also questioned whether the students actually spent the 60 required hours in the makeup sessions, since she turned in her failing grades Friday.

Hockwalt explained that some students began the makeup work on Wednesday of last week and worked through the weekend.

But those who began the sessions on Wednesday had to have worked about 8 1/2 hours a day to complete the 60 hours by the end of Tuesday, when Hockwalt told Mendez that several students had finished the courses. “It’s hard to believe that kids who fall asleep in 55 minutes of class could manage that,” Mendez said.

Joy Babbitt, president of the district’s teachers union, said the union’s executive board will meet on Friday to discuss what actions it might take. Babbitt declined to be specific, but said, “We will support the teachers.”

Meanwhile, teachers will attend the commencement exercises as required. For some like Mendez, the event will trigger mixed feelings of pride in most students and frustration with the school district. “We warned students all semester long that if they didn’t pass, they wouldn’t graduate. Now, the district says they can all go through the ceremony regardless of the choices they made during the school year.”