I was forwarded a local news story surrounding graduation controversy at Glenmuir High School, which even piqued Education Minister Thwaites' interest, although he vowed not to get involved. According to the report, Glenmuir has a strict graduation policy, forbidding students from graduating if they didn't pass maths and English in 5th form. I've honestly never read such rubbish in quite a while. The student at the centre of controversy was bright enough to sit and pass maths & English prior to reaching fifth form. The student, Leann Lewis — now in 4th form, has seven subjects, and passed English with grade one at age 12.
In my view, it is an outstanding achievement, which ought to be highly commended! Having said that, the principal is being stubborn enough to want to enforce a strange graduation policy, which obviously wasn't worded properly in the first place, and which implies that the student may be barred from graduation the following year. We all know maths & English are vital subjects, required in just about every area, but perhaps the policy should be worded to forbid graduation if students didn't sit these subjects at all, regardless of pass or fail, and moreso, regardless of when they sat it! According to the report, "The principal, Monacia Williams, says the school is not instructing that Leann should re-sit maths and English when she reaches fifth form, it is only insisting that she must abide by the graduation policy."
I should advise the prinicipal that a policy is merely a rule or code of conduct. It is not a law; the student didn't do anything illegal. This should not be an issue to be put before any Board for a decision either. I believe the Minister of Education should intervene immediately instead of staying silent, because this is actually quite confusing. What message are we really sending here to these young students?
P.Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com
Celebrate brightness, not darkness!
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In my view, it is an outstanding achievement, which ought to be highly commended! Having said that, the principal is being stubborn enough to want to enforce a strange graduation policy, which obviously wasn't worded properly in the first place, and which implies that the student may be barred from graduation the following year. We all know maths & English are vital subjects, required in just about every area, but perhaps the policy should be worded to forbid graduation if students didn't sit these subjects at all, regardless of pass or fail, and moreso, regardless of when they sat it! According to the report, "The principal, Monacia Williams, says the school is not instructing that Leann should re-sit maths and English when she reaches fifth form, it is only insisting that she must abide by the graduation policy."
I should advise the prinicipal that a policy is merely a rule or code of conduct. It is not a law; the student didn't do anything illegal. This should not be an issue to be put before any Board for a decision either. I believe the Minister of Education should intervene immediately instead of staying silent, because this is actually quite confusing. What message are we really sending here to these young students?
P.Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com
Celebrate brightness, not darkness!
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