Monday, June 22, 2020

Failure in the Virtual Classroom

The report found only 27% of districts required teachers to record whether students participate in remote classes, while remote attendance has been abysmal.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that, 10 weeks in, "The Philadelphia School District registers just 61% of students attending school on an average day." The same week the Boston Globe reported that only "Half of students are logging into online class or submitting assignments online on a typical day."

The rest haven't even set the minimal expectation that teachers review or keep track of the work their students turn in.

Homework counts toward students' final grades in 42% of districts.

Teachers unions never want teachers' performance judged by student achievement, so they've lobbied to ensure a lack of accountability and assessment during the shutdowns.

Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey said that "Customary forms of grading are inappropriate in a global health crisis" and asked "How can such an uneven playing field produce fairness and justice for minority students?" United Teachers Los Angeles lobbied for no student to receive a failing grade, or a worse grade than they had before the shutdowns.

The union declared that "We are pressing to not mandate summer school for students who earned a D grade," which they said was "Simply an issue of fairness."

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