In a baffling move that defies both common sense and the principles that form the backbone of a functioning society, the San Francisco Public School District has unveiled a new grading policy that allows students to pass with a mere 21%. Yes, you read that right—21%. This isn’t a typo or a fictional tale; it’s the new reality for students across 14 high schools in the district. While most people were focused on real-life issues like paying bills or surviving the relentless inflation plaguing our economy, the administrators in San Francisco apparently decided it’s time to “elevate” the educational standards—or rather, lower them beyond belief.
To add to this astonishing turn of events, this grading for equity method throws homework and weekly test scores out the window. Imagine the shock on parents’ faces when their kids show up with grades more akin to a roulette wheel than actual academic performance. Now, students will face just one test at the end of each semester. If they don’t pass it the first time, no worries! They can retake it as many times as needed. The result? A system where accountability goes to die and where perseverance and hard work are optional rather than requisite. Heaven forbid kids learn that actions have consequences or that striving for success requires effort.
Moreover, if a student doesn’t feel like attending class or turning in their assignments on time, that’s perfectly fine. Why burden them with the unfair expectation of showing up and participating like the rest of society? Apparently, San Francisco is setting the stage for a utopian future where responsibility is passé, and everyone graduates based on the mere possibility they might someday grasp the concept of effort. After all, if you can comprehend a fifth of the material taught, you must be a genius by these standards.
The most egregious part? This new policy was enacted unilaterally by the superintendent without any input or approval from the school board. It seems we’ve replaced the school approval process with one-woman shows of authority. Naturally, there’s talk of equity, that beloved buzzword often used to justify all sorts of absurdities. But this isn’t equity; it’s the demolition of educational integrity. It’s an educational system that no longer values education or hard work and instead opts for a conveyor belt approach to diplomas.
In the real world, employers won’t hand out paychecks for tasks left unfinished or done poorly. Life demands a bit more than showing up and scribbling your name occasionally. If public schools continue to strip away the last vestiges of discipline, it’s uncertain what exactly they offer anymore. As parents ponder the choices for their kids’ education, one has to wonder why anyone would entrust future generations to a system that seems more concerned with sparing feelings than preparing students for the responsibilities that adulthood entails.
