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Ms. Sangalli's Class


Debate Info

11
17
yes no
Debate Score:28
Arguments:28
Total Votes:30
Ended:11/13/09
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 yes (11)
 
 no (17)

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Should students have the chance to recover a failing grade by attending tutoring for 8 hrs

When students fail a core class, they can attend tutoring from 4 to 5pm for 8 days and have a chance to make a 70 in that class. They must attend every day and pass a test on the eighth day. 

yes

Side Score: 11
VS.

no

Side Score: 17
Winning Side!
1 point

I think students should be able to recover a failing grade. We all have atleast one subject in school that we just don't understand. No matter how hard we study for that subject we still don't get it and we do everything in our power just to simply "get by". For me, that subject was chemistry. No matter what I did I just didn't understand it. I was proud of myself if i was even able to pass with just a 70. I wanted to go to tutoring but I was scared to admit that I needed help. If a student is brave enough and willing to devote themselves to a subject for 8 extra hours on there own time just to be able to pass a class, then they should be allowed to go to tutoring to recover a failing grade.

Side: yes
1 point

Students ought to have an opportunity to improve their grades if failing a class, even if it’s gained by staying a couple of hours after school, particularly since the 4x4 plan was mandated. Conversely, I believe that these students should be allotted a maximum of two chances to recover their grades.

Side: yes
1 point

Yes, I believe students should be given a chance to recover a failing grade. It's not really whether it's fair to other students, but a matter if the individual gains the knowledge to survive later on the real world. What the real value is what amount of knowledge is gained...so it doesn't matter if it's in 8 hours or in 180 days. I won't deny that this irritates me that some take advantage of this option, but complaining about this is also laziness. In a way those who succeed the courses in the original planned time are the ones with the upper hand, we have more time to absorb more information than those who only spent 8 hours.

Side: yes
1 point

Students should have the chance to recover a failing grade because it will help students now and in the future.There is always a reason why a student failed and it is not always that they did not try their hardest it could be that they did not understand the material being taught or could learn at a diffrerent rate. With this program students will be able relearn the material and having a better understanding of what was taught will help them in the class they are struggling in.

Side: yes
1 point

Students go to school to learn and to get a better education. They need to do well inorder to be successful in life. When students struggle in a subject and they do not well it can really hurt them. Now that they have an opportunity to improve their grade they can get back on track. School can be hard for many students and when they are given a second chance then that can make them see that they can still be someone great in life.

Side: yes
1 point

Students who have fail have not being able to pass their class for varies reasons and this reasons are the cause that prevents them from passing and understand the class' concept. If the students are willing to put the extra time to work at their weakest area without being forced then they will show their true determination. Because people who decide to go on their own show that they really want to be there to improve their grades. For this students they have an option to be there or not to be there. Finally, in conclusion students who care will show up and earn their new passing grade.

Side: yes
1 point

Students should have the opportunity to recover their grades by going to Academic Boot Camp. The Boot Camp is designed so that you have to go Mon-Thurs without missing a day and without being tardy in order to have the chance to make it up. Some students simply don't understand certain topics and with extra tutoring can pass the class. The ones who don't care and skipped the class probably will skip Boot Camp as well and will not have the opportunity to pass. Academic Boot Camp doesn't just give the students the grade. Rather, it empowers failing students to pass through hard work and gives them the chance to go to college.

Side: yes
1 point

I support the boot camp program because it gives slower students a second chance at boosting their grades. The AP/GT students who are disagreeing with me should not lower their standards to those of the Regular kids (like Prithvi). Prithvi, you should not be so narrowminded. The kids who are attending boot camp have the opportunity to bump up their grade to a maximum of 70, and I'm sure that most people do not find that grade very appealing. You, on the other hand, want all A's. Therefore, quit lowering your standards. It's not like they are going to lower your rank.

Side: yes
Prithvi(5) Disputed
1 point

Your argument against me makes no sense. I am not lowering my standards, they have been lowered for failing students, without me or you in mind. Students have had opportunities to “bump” their grades for six WHOLE weeks. Those who have wanted to raise their failing grades to passing grades have most certainly done so, those who were content with failure have not. My argument is that willing failures should not be given a second chance to recover six weeks in eight hours and if they are, then successes should be allowed to replace a 36 week course in forty-eight hours. Sure, it sounds absurd to take and complete an AP course in 48 hours but that option should be available for required courses such as health and speech.

I honestly don't know where you get the idea that I was lowering my standards aside from the fact that you clearly misinterpreted my post.

Maybe I'll stop being narrow-minded when you get on my level.

Side: No
deborahkim29(6) Disputed
1 point

If you're so against academic boot camp, why do you even bother volunteering? Are you just doing it for community service hours?

I personally think academic boot camp is awesome. I mean, we're helping other students succeed and become motivated. What's better than helping change a life?

Side: yes
1 point

I've thought this one over, going back on forth on my decision until finally deciding that yes, students should have the chance to recover a failing grade by attending tutoring for 8 hours. I think we are being entirely too one sided in this debate, arguing that most of the students who are going to the Academic Boot Camp are going because they are lazy. There are, however, cases of students just not understanding the material. There is no way to go on a case by case basis on this, we as students, teachers, and administrators are by no means able to judge if someone failed because they are lazy or because they honestly did not understand the material. Also, Boot Camp is all some students have. This is the only way they will be able to receive a diploma, and everyone deserves that opportunity. Without at least a high school diploma there is hardly any way to be successful and live a happy life. We can't take that chance away from them as well.

Side: yes
1 point

Students who have failed a course should not be allowed to remediate a whole six weeks worth of work in eight, one-hour sessions. Why should students who have failed to commit to the class be given such an easy second chance? It undermines the whole purpose of the educational system. If on-level failing students are allowed to take one test to replace a six-weeks average, then advanced passing students should also be allowed to take one test to replace a displeasing average. Why should leniency be granted for failures and rewards not granted for success? Furthermore, many teachers advertise the fact they are available for tutoring and assistance to students who are struggling. Teachers make the effort to help students;they want to see them pass. If the student feels the same way, then they will put in extra work and set up sessions with the teacher or study on their own (those with compelling circumstances can speak to the teacher who will most probably understand, and if not, well, that is a different issue.) However, the majority of students lack the drive or simply shirk their responsibilities. There is a dearth of academic seriousness and it is deplorably sad. So, no failing students should not have the chance to recover their grade. It is offensive to students who have put in the time and work, to the teachers who have attempted to help them, and to the educational institution.

Side: No
tyevose(4) Disputed
1 point

Who says taht these students have "failed to commit to the class"? If they are willing to put the extra 8 hours in for just a simple 70 they obviously they are willing to commit.

Side: yes
1 point

Students should not be given an opportunity like this if they are failing a class because they showed no effort to improve their grades on their own. A program like this contradicts how classes are run because a student can choose to slack off and wait until it is time to recover then pass. Students are responsible and expected to attend class and complete their assignments and if a student decides not to do any school work what so ever, it reflects how much he actually cares. Teachers cannot help those who don't help themselves, so if the student does not care, he does not deserve to be assisted.

Side: No
1 point

I do not believe students should be given a chance to recover a failing grade by merely attending tutoring and passing a test. Those who do not care to try do not care to pass. These students should not be "babied" through efforts of administrators and teachers to further their education, rather, they should do it on their own. People make mistakes, but should learn from them. This program simplifies the traditional process and gives failing students the impression of facility, which will not apply to anything in the real world. If a student does not understand a subject, then he must take initiative to gain the knowledge he needs by attending tutoring, conducting a study group, etc. In some cases, the failing grade isn't due to a lack of care or effort; it could be the result a difficult circumstance that devoured the student's attention. However, there are numerous students in AP classes who have encountered grueling situations, yet maintained their "A" averages. If they can do it, then why can't others? If a student fails a class, then he must take the conventional route of retaking the class. This is the only way he will learn from his mistakes and better himself for the future.

Side: No
1 point

i have to disagree with you Ms. Farrar [ha, dont take it personal though]. lets look at numbers:

one class period is an hour (rounding up).

your in class 5 days a week. so for 1 six weeks, you have attended class for... 30 hours evry six weeks.

with this 'academic boot camp' you in tutoring for EIGHT hours, and your given the chance to redeem credit for that class.

hm, do you think they are going to offer 'boot camps' in college? do you think in the 'real world' people will be given a second chance just because they failed on their first? how do you think those people who worked their butts off and still only made a 70 feel when people who slacked of can go to tutoring for a few days and make the same grade? if we get students accustomed to this type of learning, they will stop trying and always rely on those second chances. if obama just happened to fail as a president this year, do you think he deserves a chance to serve another term? [you seen what happened when we re-elected bush!!]

Side: No
1 point

Absolutely not. If a student honestly has tried to pass the course and doesn't understand it, it is impossible for a student to learn all of the curriculum made for 30 hours in 8. If this is allowed, why not have all students have a 2 week period to complete their work instead of the 6 weeks? It's an excuse for students who are on the verge of passing to quit in the last few days because they know they can get a second chance. If students have trouble in an area, they need to go in for tutoring when they need help. Tye, there's always the fear of going and asking for help, but it's a life skill necessary in the work place to gain courage to know when and how to ask for help.

I do agree that if this has to occur, I agree with Megan that it should be limited to twice a year, probably only once a semester. However, seeing that this isn't the case and this program is made to be repeated every six weeks, there's no purpose in trying in class and I have to disagree with the statement.

Side: No
1 point

While I support the idea that students willing to commit their time for a second chance should be given the opportunity, I disagree with the current system’s duration. If content mastery was that unachievable in the first place, it should take longer than eight hours to acquire the skills needed to pass the course. There is an absolute need to extend the required sit-in time and limit the convenience of the program to a maximum of two grading periods so that there is actual incentive for effort on the first attempt, as currently the brevity only serves as express lane that gets failing students out of the school quicker. This digresses from the program’s original purpose: to ensure that students have learned something.

Side: No
1 point

As a member of the Campus Improvement Committee, where the idea of Academic Boot Camp was founded, I was at first a follower. I believe in second chances just as much as anybody else. When this idea was first introduced to me, I was told that this would be available for one six weeks only. Now, it is being offered for every six weeks. I was one of two students that tutored in this program; therefore, I can speak from a valid viewpoint. These kids are taking it for granted. Eight hours is not anywhere equivalent to six whole weeks of work. What kind of message is this sending to our students? With the new grading policy of Texas, kids are already able to make up quizzes and homework grades. So, if these kids are failing, it isn't a concept issue, it is a laziness issue. Now they can make up their average? Well, I would like to raise my grades a few more points in Calculus. Can I go to tutoring for eight hours? I don't think the faculty would appeal to that. The more chances we get now, the less likely kids will respect success. This will result in a failure rate in college. Grades are earned, not given.

Side: No
1 point

While allowing students to remediate would boost the amount of kids that become ellible for graduation attending tutoring for 8 hours in no way makes up for a six weeks. Of course administrators will want to up the amount of graduating kids to obtain a better rating but they should be promoting harder work in the classroom. This method will only allow kids to continue to slack off and procrastinate on donig any form of work. The administrators should understand that to obtain a higher school ranking you need to set higher standards. This is done through higher standards in classes.

Side: No
1 point

It doesn't matter what your involved in, let's be honest, 50% of the kids that show up at our school could care less. The only reason our school is having this "academic boot camp" is because they don't want a high failing rate for our school. They shouldn't even try to help the kids who don't give a crap, but the administrators are worried because they may look bad which could affect their six figure salary. If kids don't do their work and put the effort in they deserve to fail and have to retake the whole grade over again. Most of them will end up dropping out anyways.

Side: No
1 point

All of yall are psycho. Yall write these super long paragraphs geez! Anyways I am borderline on yes and no. Basically i'm undecided. Everyone has another life outside of school. And with another life comes another set of problems, and some students have more severe problems than others.Some kids genuinley need this opportunity. As for the slackers that are manipulating the system, they do not deserve this opportunity. So its all based on the individual.

Side: No
msangalli(58) Disputed
1 point

Come on Diane - take a stand and be firm! Get off that undecided fence!

Side: yes
1 point

If a person can recover from a failing grade with just eight hours of tutoring, he or she could have passed the class from the beginning. It takes more effort and concentration to learn six weeks' worth of material in only eight hours in two hours chunks after school (that is, another seven or eight hours of new material) then it does to learn six weeks' worth of material in, well, six weeks in fifty-ish minute chunks everyday.

In fact, the existence of such a remediation option encourages a student to put in less effort the first time around, like a reset button. It means the first attempt does not matter, so why should the student bother?

Side: No
1 point

I think this allows students to guiltlessly slack off during class and instead of being punished, they are rewarded with a second chance. I mean, why pay attention and do your work in class for an entire six weeks when you can make it up in only 8 hours of tutoring, right? Now, if a student honestly tries their best and fails a class by a couple of points, that's a completely different story. But that is not the case in most situations.

Side: No
1 point

Majority of students that fail a class, fail because they don't do their work. Being able to recover a failing grade should not be alllowed. It's unfair to the students that do work hard to get a passing grade. Even the students that have difficulty understanding the class shouldn't be able to recover credit. If you are a hard working student that turns in all work and attends tutorials, your teacher will more than likely not fail you.

Side: No
1 point

Students should not be allowed to pass a six weeks by merely going to eight hours of tutoring. Responsibility lies with the students to make sure that they do all of their work correctly and on time. Instead of having tutoring as an option the students should have to talk to teachers in order to remediate grades through fixing their actual work. They should have to retake tests, turn in homework they never finished, and more in order to have the opportunity to pass. Tutoring in order to pass is the equivalent of saying that it was alright in order to fail in the first place. If a student fails a six weeks, they probably deserve it.

Side: No
1 point

I believe success in school requires more guidance and wisdom than just classroom instruction. Are we really guiding them to the right path if we encourage to cram a whole six weeks worth of lessons in eight hours? This really takes away from the art of teaching to awaken the natural curiosty and interest of the young mind and instead create a monotonus tutoring sessions. Also, true intelligence is not measured by how much we know, but to reason and be able to think for ourselves with the knowledge we do have. The connotation associated with "Academic Boot Camp" makes it seem like a study session instead of allowing teachers to personally devise a plan that best fits the students needs.

Side: No