Teacher sues for right to give out "F"'s

[dbackjon]

Are fourth-graders too young to fail? Prevented from flunking her students, Sheila Goudeau of Louisiana is suing local school officials in East Baton Rouge for interfering with her duties as a teacher. Goudeau, a 20-year veteran instructor who teaches fourth-graders, alleges in her lawsuit that Shilonda Shamlin, the principal of Riveroaks Elementary School, ordered the faculty to not grade lower than 60%, in effect a “D.” She claims the restriction is a violation of a state law that forbids administrative and school board officials from influencing or altering grades given out by teachers.

Goudeau, who is now teaching at a different school, further claims that “illegal alteration of students’ grades misled the affected students and their parents into thinking they were passing and obtaining the required skills to proceed to fifth grade, when in reality those students were neither passing nor obtaining the requisite skills needed for the fifth grade.”

http://www.allgov.com/Unusual_News/View ... _Fs_100505" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Good for her!!

[YoUDeeMan]

Great find! Seems as though Ms. Goudeau is giving the big f-you to the school officials! Woo-hoo!

Shilonda Shamlin needs to be sent packing.

[Col Hogan]

I hope she wins her case...that's just plain wrong...

[Ivytalk]

Every time I think I've seen everything....

[HI54UNI]

Here's another article with more details

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/05/03/26900.htm

I applaud the teacher for doing this. It's unfortunate that she had to go to court. The supt. of schools and/or school board appear to be involved as well. They need to be sent packing along with the principal.

This also shows a problem with holding teachers and administrators accountable if they have no morals. Under No Child Left Behind schools that continually fail can end up on a watch list. If you still don't improve one of the requirements is that teachers and administrators HAVE to be fired. Padding the test scores can be a way to keep you off the list and help you keep your job. I hope the principal doesn't teach an ethics class.

[Baldy]

Oh yes, "progressive" education at it's finest.

Guess they can start handing out participation trophies at their high school graduations.

[catamount man]

Two nuts up here!!! Our public schools are nothing but glorified pussy factories. Private schooling looks better on a daily basis.

[SuperHornet]

I thought social promotion went out the door 10-20 years ago. I guess I was wrong.

Cat-man is right. But homeschooling is also a good option IF at least one of the parents can deal with the hassles involved.

[Chizzang]

Private school / Public school / Home School...
Just like almost everything in life.. it's what you make it

Some of our brightest doctors and scientists come from regular old high schools
In regular little towns all over America

This idea that public schools suck is just a reaction - there are lots of great public schools and great teachers and a kid can be successful and get a great education at just about any public school anywhere...

[Gil Dobie]

Are fourth-graders too young to fail? Prevented from flunking her students, Sheila Goudeau of Louisiana is suing local school officials in East Baton Rouge for interfering with her duties as a teacher. Goudeau, a 20-year veteran instructor who teaches fourth-graders, alleges in her lawsuit that Shilonda Shamlin, the principal of Riveroaks Elementary School, ordered the faculty to not grade lower than 60%, in effect a “D.” She claims the restriction is a violation of a state law that forbids administrative and school board officials from influencing or altering grades given out by teachers.

My first grade class had 3 students that didn't join us in second grade, and one stayed back to be with her sister. Today they are all productive members of society. Some of the ones that stayed with our class thoughout, are pretty messed up though.

[Gil Dobie]

Private school / Public school / Home School...
Just like almost everything in life.. it's what you make it

Some of our brightest doctors and scientists come from regular old high schools
In regular little towns all over America

This idea that public schools suck is just a reaction - there are lots of great public schools and great teachers and a kid can be successful and get a great education at just about any public school anywhere...

Great point Chizzy

[kalm]

Do grades really matter at this point? Anyone here remember what type of grades they were getting in 4th grade?

Nothing like passing out a few "F's" to motivate 10 year olds.

[HI54UNI]

Private school / Public school / Home School...
Just like almost everything in life.. it's what you make it

Some of our brightest doctors and scientists come from regular old high schools
In regular little towns all over America

This idea that public schools suck is just a reaction - there are lots of great public schools and great teachers and a kid can be successful and get a great education at just about any public school anywhere...

Well put.

[HI54UNI]

I thought social promotion went out the door 10-20 years ago. I guess I was wrong.

Cat-man is right. But homeschooling is also a good option IF at least one of the parents can deal with the hassles involved.

And if the parents have a clue about what they are doing. Don't forget the Fred Phelps family home schools their kids.

[blueballs]

For heavens sakes let us in no way foster accountability or competition in our youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We might offend somebody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[youngterrier]

Are fourth-graders too young to fail? Prevented from flunking her students, Sheila Goudeau of Louisiana is suing local school officials in East Baton Rouge for interfering with her duties as a teacher. Goudeau, a 20-year veteran instructor who teaches fourth-graders, alleges in her lawsuit that Shilonda Shamlin, the principal of Riveroaks Elementary School, ordered the faculty to not grade lower than 60%, in effect a “D.” She claims the restriction is a violation of a state law that forbids administrative and school board officials from influencing or altering grades given out by teachers.

Goudeau, who is now teaching at a different school, further claims that “illegal alteration of students’ grades misled the affected students and their parents into thinking they were passing and obtaining the required skills to proceed to fifth grade, when in reality those students were neither passing nor obtaining the requisite skills needed for the fifth grade.”

http://www.allgov.com/Unusual_News/View ... _Fs_100505" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Good for her!!

in South Carolina a 60 is an F

[catamount man]

For heavens sakes let us in no way foster accountability or competition in our youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We might offend somebody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

welcome to liberal utopia where everyone is equal and God is dead.

[Chizzang]

For heavens sakes let us in no way foster accountability or competition in our youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We might offend somebody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

welcome to liberal utopia where everyone is equal and God is dead.

You two are quite the pair....

[SuperHornet]

I thought social promotion went out the door 10-20 years ago. I guess I was wrong.

Cat-man is right. But homeschooling is also a good option IF at least one of the parents can deal with the hassles involved.

And if the parents have a clue about what they are doing. Don't forget the Fred Phelps family home schools their kids.

Whitewashing the entire homeschooling concept over the antics of one lunatic is illogical at best. Some of the most productive members of society came out of homeschooling. #15 comes to mind just off the top of my head.

[HI54UNI]

And if the parents have a clue about what they are doing. Don't forget the Fred Phelps family home schools their kids.

Whitewashing the entire homeschooling concept over the antics of one lunatic is illogical at best. Some of the most productive members of society came out of homeschooling. #15 comes to mind just off the top of my head.

I never said homeschooling was bad. However people that whitewash the entire public school system because of one bad school is illogical as well, right?

[SuperHornet]

Whitewashing the entire homeschooling concept over the antics of one lunatic is illogical at best. Some of the most productive members of society came out of homeschooling. #15 comes to mind just off the top of my head.

I never said homeschooling was bad. However people that whitewash the entire public school system because of one bad school is illogical as well, right?

For me, a lot of that depends on the district. Some have financial issues; others just don't really give a rip about their students. Still others do an outstanding job, sometimes with limited resources. You are correct that whitewashing is a bad thing to do regardless of the target. Sure, libs have taken control in many places, but at the level of the individual teacher are some of the most dedicated professionals on the planet who are usually not compensated anywhere near the amount of effort they put into the job.