Virginia School District Targets Inequity by Shooting at Grades and Deadlines – Opinion

For those currently in school who’ve been oppressed by the evils of conditions, rejoice: You may soon receive unconditional love.

At least that’s the case if your classroom’s in Arlington, Virginia.

Arlington Public Schools (APS) seems sick of differences in the world, so it’s decided to attain supreme sameness.

Because pupils are likely to meet objective standards in varying degrees of proficiency, it is not necessary for them to be held accountable.

Unless I misunderstand, if we pretend everyone’s alike, then they magically are.

The district’s proposed a four-point fundamental overhaul in the name of that greatest of goods, equity.

WJLA lays ’em out:

• No late penalties for homework — because the proposal says it leads to inaccurate grades as it reflects on student’s behavior and not student achievement
• No extra credit — as the proposal says extra credit leads to biased grades and penalizes students with fewer resources
• Unlimited redoes or retakes
• There will not be any grading of homework. The proposal states that mistakes are essential to learning, and students take less risks when they are afraid they might get graded.

While academic rules were once well-defined, that was before the advent of modern science.

Dr. Erin Russo — principal of Discovery Elementary — recently praised the superiority of progress.

She pushed for the removal of rank during a meeting about the proposals:

“There’s no labeling of students or ranking of students. It’s the ownership of what do I need to work on and where am I?”

It is indeed.

ASD isn’t the first educational institution to accuse merit of discrimination.

The following cases are examples:

College Schools Students and Staff on Microaggressions’ ‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’ and the ‘Myth of Meritocracy’

Arizona State University Dean writes 350+ page book on how writing is graded.

California College Nixes Test Scores for Admissions, Prefers a ‘Strong Message About Equity’

Professor Fries with the Sin of Writing Rules and Whacks White Supremacy through Gonging Grades

In Order to Attack ‘Systemic Racism,’ a School Eliminates Failure and Time Constraints

College Symposium Razes the Anti-Black Racism of ‘Good’ Grammar

Colorado University Hosts Teacher Training to Fight the ‘White Supremacy’ of ‘Productivity’

Not every Arlington academic’s in favor of ditching deadlines and eschewing scores.

A group of teachers from Wakefield High School have issued a letter claiming equity wouldn’t be the result of such shifts.

In fact, they insist, an unreeling of slack would hurt students’ preparation for the future:

These changes are likely to have a detrimental impact on student learning, socio-emotional growth and development. If implemented, the changes will result in a decline in high expectations and rigor within the classrooms at all APS High Schools.

“[I]f proposed changes are implemented,” they assert, “the accountability ‘piece’ of the learning process will exist in theory only.”

It is not unusual to have to complete certain tasks in school, but it also applies to life.

Students learn not only how to make an argument, write math equations or conduct science experiments. As they matriculate to high school, students also acquire organizational, time, and stress management skills. This helps them to become civically involved, responsible young adults. These students must be accountable to their teachers for meeting the deadlines they have set and completing work on time.

If I can sum it up: Students are dumber when school is easier.

What will happen to the district? There’s a fair chance. The increasingly prevailing perspective appears to be “Lessons, schmessons; why should they learn in school?”

It’s a sight far from the old ways.

There used to be a saying: “Rise to the occasion.”

Invention was once the product of necessity.

But these days, the occasion’s unfairly high.

The most likely white supremacist is the necessity.

So the fight rages on — against prejudice, against privilege.

And also — if I have this right — against our ability to not be overtaken by China.

Even so, don’t misunderstand — in some areas, schools are still demanding students’ best:

You’ll Be Graded on Wokeness: Professor Forces Students to Put Their Pronouns on Assignments https://t.co/ocNaosjP8w

— RedState (@RedState) November 17, 2021

-ALEX

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