Are schools training our kids to accept mediocrity?
By worker65
@worker65 (160)
New Zealand
December 7, 2006 12:01am CST
In New Zealand we have a new qualifications system in our high schools which seems to be training our kids to do poorly by boosting their egoi over poor results. The NCEA has grades of Not Achieved, Achieved, Merit and Excellence -no percentages or figures at all, even on the papers themselves. From what I can see from my kids results "Achieved" means barely passed, and yet to me - and my kids apparently - this wording suggests they have actually done really well. The thinking is that kids have to feel good about themselves, but as far as I can see it just rewards poor work.
1 response
@Msnforum (631)
• United States
18 Jan 07
What I can say is that they either messed the whole system up. Sometimes is the variety of component tested in a three hours exam. It's hard to see people stressing out in a three hour exam. The marking schedule is even worst. If you fail to get the important question right, you Achievement will be stripped away from you.
For those who have been through this system, some are happy with it and some aren't at all. I have read a couple of articles, they say even the top students can fail in NCEA, it's not surprising at all.
