GRADING POLICY: Should be changed

I just read Jackie McNamara’s guest opinion in the My Turn Column regarding the Coeur d’Alene School Board’s Policy on students retaking failed tests. I can’t believe they would have such a punitive policy. What positive reason would you have for this policy. I have a grandson who really struggled in middle school. He enrolled in Coeur d’Alene High School and within a month I saw a completely different attitude. His interest in school work and teachers did a 180 degree turnaround. He felt his teachers really cared, if he missed a quiz or failed a test, he could retake the quiz or test. I never dreamed his retake would be averaged in with his failed grade. I don’t really understand the reason for such a policy. If a student is willing to study the subject again and take the test again and get a high score on the retake and then end up with some degrading mediocre grade it is demoralizing. School Board Members rethink that Policy. Think about how demoralizing that is to the student.

MARK SODERLING

Dalton Gardens