Friday, September 26, 2003

YOU HAVEN'T 'FAILED' - YOU'VE 'NEARLY PASSED'
Pupils across Lincolnshire may soon be able to sit exams without fear of failing, when new government guidelines come into effect.

The guidelines, for marking key national curriculum exams, recommend that the current F grade, for 'fail', should be replaced with an N grade, for 'nearly'.

The guidelines were sent out to markers of this summer's exams by the Government's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

They include instructions that maths exam answers should be marked as either 'creditworthy' or 'not creditworthy', rather than correct or incorrect.

The changes cover English, maths and science exams at key stages one, two and three, which are taken by seven-, 11- and 14-year-olds.

Youngsters who do not achieve a minimum mark, where the tests have a target of levels three to five, can be given a 'compensatory level two' award.
A recent educational fad held that the most important goal of schooling is to enhance the "self-esteem" of students. The now discredited theory attempted to blame all manner of disparities and failings, in school and the rest of life, on "low self-esteem," and guessed (with no evidence) that eliminating "self-esteem damaging" actions such as providing realistic grades would help with this "problem."

With the modern educational establishment being largely dominated by those who are slow nearly fast, the leading edge of this already discredited fad is just making it to Lincolnshire. These educrats should be given a compensatory (and appropriately oxymoronic) 'stupid idiots' award.

That wave passed through Tempe, Arizona a few years ago, disguised as "Outcome Based Education." The garbage pickup, pizza delivery and hamburger flipping establishments of Arizona are now happily employing the graduates.

Thanks to Smallest Minority and Tongue Tied.

No comments: