Son didn't graduate from high school. He failed US History and it is a state requirement that you pass that class in order to graduate. Most of the blame rests squarely on his shoulders. He skated close to the edge and put himself in a position that was difficult to defend.
I had gone to his teacher at the start of the quarter. I told him my goal was to see Son pass because I didn't want to be sitting in the principal's office at the end of the year hearing that it wasn't going to happen. Apparently, when you've been teaching for 31 years and in the district nearly that long, you do whatever the hell you want to do with very little interference by the administration.
Son got a progress report that was bad but it was right after I had spoken to the teacher. He was in the process of trying out for and rehearsing for the school play. He started doing his homework and projects on time. I figured we were on the upswing. He got a 93 on one of the major projects and a 77 on his final that was worth two test grades. He still ended up with a 65 average and you need a 69 average in this district to pass.
I spent every day last week on the phone, communicating via email, and sitting in the office asking what could be done in order for Son to pass. Every step of the way the administration would listen, agree with everything we'd say, and then say they wouldn't do anything. I told them on Friday that it was like trying to nail jello to a tree in terms of dealing with them.
I told them that education was what you remembered after you forgot everything taught to you in school and that I expected the administration to see the big picture and not be constrained by what was in the teacher's gradebook.
Obviously, they didn't see it the same way. I was sickened, disheartened, and saddened by the whole process.
The good news is that Son can still start college (which is on July 15th) as long as he's at least taken the GED pre-test by then. He knows he blew it and looks forward to redeeming himself in college.
Posted by bbarton at June 14, 2004 09:55 AM