Student Editorial
(1) At the last school board meeting, the board approved a new grading system. (2) Starting next school year, the lowest grade a student can get on
his or her report card is 50. (3) The teachers strongly protested the new policy, but the board approved the new policy, and it was unanimous. (4) I agree
with the teachers on this issue. (5) This grading policy is a mistake for our school.
(6) I am a junior who makes A's and B's. (T) I know that the grade I get is the grade I earned. (8) If I let the quality of my work slip, then I get a lower
grade. (9) The students in this school who refuse to do any work should get a grade that reflects their lack of effort. (10) Last six weeks, I saw the report
card of a boy in my class. (11) Reading down his report card, I saw 17, 15, 22, and other low grades. (12) In the future, his grades will be 50, 50, 50, etc.
(13) His grades will be about 30 points higher through no effort on his part.
(14) This artificial raising of grades will give an unfair advantage to these students. (15) Most of the schools in the area give students the grades they
earn. (16) Students in our school will get higher grades than students in other schools, even if they do the same amount of work.
(17) The school board defended its position by quoting dropout statistics and connecting them to grades. (18) They theorize that students who make
very low grades can't bring their grades up enough to pass. (19) The students will get disheartened and dropout. (20) The board thinks that keeping
averages at 50 will give the kids a better chance to bring the grades up to passing. (21) I know the board feels that it is protecting the students, but in the
long term it is hurting them. (22) They are giving students the wrong message about success. (23) In the real world, success must be eamed, it will not
be handed out.
(24) The board ignored teacher opinions when they approved the policy, but they cannot ignore everyone. (25) Parents and students need to attend
the next school board meeting. (26) Tell the school board that you want the grading system to remain the same next year and beyond.
SON
Select the correct answer
Which of these sentences could be added to the end of the third paragraph (sentences 14-16) to support the ideas in that paragraph?
KA I can make higher grades if study hard for tests and do my homework on time.
OB.
c.
This grading difference creates an unfair comparison between students.
Each school has its own school board that makes decisions about policies.
D. One boy in my class made zeroes in four of his classes because he never worked.