Those who flunk

Flunk isn't a word used in education circles these days. Now it is "persistence," or "retention" or "challenges to academic success." Whatever. A high school teacher told me that she had failed two seniors and six juniors in her science course this year, a record. She might fail 2 or 3 a year, but never 8. I asked her to what she attributed the difference. She first explained that in addition to the usual classroom work, the students have 1) her home phone number and they are asked to use it if they need help, 2) a work packet of additional assignments everyone is expected to complete, and 3) special small group study sessions anyone can attend, but it's not required. The two seniors did nothing of the work packet, and if they'd even made an effort they would have had a passing grade, and they attended none of the small group study sessions which would have helped if they were struggling, and they never called her. They skipped a few classes, but mainly they were skipping English--just coasting their senior year, having a good time.

"So, they won't graduate?" I asked.
"Oh no, they had enough credits--didn't even need another science. It was encouraged so that the school curriculum would look more rigorous. But it does lower their GPA."

Ah, youth, maybe it really is wasted on the young.