The Texas American Federation of Teachers has received notification that there will be no appeal by school districts from a June court decision upholding the state ban on local minimum-grade policies.
Under these local policies, teachers have been required to give students grades no lower than some district-mandated minimum, even if the students have refused to do any assignments or have failed to attend class.
Eleven Texas school districts, led by the Fort Bend Independent School District, had sought a court order nullifying the effect of the new law, written by Sen. Jane Nelson, Republican of Lewisville.
Last month Fort Bend Employee federation president Karrie Washenfelder asked FBISD not to appeal the decision, calling an appeal a “wasteful lawsuit” that would use unnecessary tax dollars.
“We want our administrators to stand behind us in grading these children and seeing they pass and seeing that they are promoted fairly,” said Washenfelder in July. “Nevertheless, the district continued with the lawsuit. We have defeated the lawsuit. When we start school, we are expecting there will be no pressure on us to assign any grades to a student.”
Texas AFT President Linda Bridges welcomed the districts’ decision not to appeal.
“These school districts have made the right move,” said Bridges. “We believe that any shred of doubt about the meaning of this law has been eliminated and that all school districts must, without further delay, comply fully with the legislative intent to outlaw minimum grades. All Texas school districts should implement this law as intended, with no more unearned minimum grades but with reasonable opportunities for students to redo assignments or exams in order to earn a passing grade.As our member Mary Roberts testified, the practice of awarding minimum grades regardless of a student’s actual work is wrong in principle, because it devalues real effort and achievement. There are much better ways to help students get back on track academically, without awarding them academic credit they have not earned.”
I wonder how much money the district spend pursuing such a frivolous case? I mean really.
If the brats refuse to study and get a “C” for mediocre-quality effort, let them find the error of their ways when they get to college, and find themselves taking remedial classes. If they don’t intend on going to college, they’ll slowly learn Spanish because their co-workers are mostly illegal aliens.