Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

No Diploma Needed Now To Graduate

Should students who haven't "made the grade" be allowed to participate in graduation exercises?

This question was posed to the Prescott School Board at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 16. Tentatively, the board gave the nod to allow students who don't have enough credits to graduate to go through the ceremony with their class. They can then return and finish their high school education.

In Arkansas students can legally attend high school until they are 21 years old, if they so choose.

However, after the decision was made Prescott High School principal Steve Britton said it was a bad idea, but teachers and the administration would follow the policy.

Some parents, he said, are in it for the ceremony only and aren't concerned if their child has done the work required to get a diploma. "They're short-changing their child and aren't looking at the big picture."

Britton said he's run into the same situation at other districts, with the boards handling them differently. Some were done on a case-by-case basis, while others wouldn't let students be involved if they hadn't earned the credits required to graduate.

"I like the idea of a student showing proof they've enrolled in classes and pass if they haven't met the requirements," he said. "Then they could be allowed to walk and get their diploma later. I have problems with a cosmetic make over."

Allowing students to participate in the commencement ceremony who haven't earned the credits needed, he said, means it's not really a graduation ceremony for everyone. "I can't confer saying the class passed all the requirements set by the state and district at the ceremony. I'd just have to present the class of the year 2001."

"We've worked hard to put in an action plan," said Hyacinth Deon, "to keep up with students. They know where they are."

The state, she said, has raised the standards with literacy and exit exams for seniors. It wouldn't be fair to those who actually do the work and make the grades to allow those who didn't accorded the same privilege of participating in graduation exercises.

The teachers in the audience agreed graduation is for those who have actually earned the right to be called graduates, not those who have spent their high school careers not trying.

It was also agreed "life has consequences" and letting those students who haven't earned the right walk with those who have is unfair to everyone.

Jane Purtle said colleges make students earn certain amounts of hours before they're considered to be in a specific class or grade. High schools, she said, have freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors just for getting from one year to the next whether the credits are met or not.

Pearl Bailey said middle school is the ideal place for students to make up any deficiencies they may have. This would avoid the problem in high school.

Some students, she said, may not need to be participating in extracurricular activities.

Britton reminded the board there is a program in place for true hardship cases and is mandated by federal law.

Currently, he said, letters are sent to all seniors in July letting them know where they stand and what they need to graduate.

Special education isn't considered part of this problem, Deon said, adding there are normal children who choose not to do the work. "There's no reason they can't meet the requirements."

"We're talking about students who miss excessive days with no reason," Britton said. "It's hard to help those who won't help themselves. We do all we can to help, but students need to do something to help themselves.

"For those not entitled, it's just a ceremony. To us it's a reward."

The board, while not changing its vote, will address this topic at future meetings.

Athletic director Kirk Armitage presented a suggestion to do away with the current method of study hall for students in extracurricular activities.

He suggested a transitional period where students in extracurricular activities are required, after the 2001 spring semester, to have a 1.75 GPA be remediated in the fall semester of 2001, and all such students thereafter be required to have and maintain a 2.0 GPA .By doing this, he said, it would raise the expectations of those in extracurricular activities, putting more pressure on the students to work harder in the classroom.

This proposal was also supported by the Prescott High School band director.

Arkansas Activities Association, superintendent Ron Wright said, allows supplemental instruction programs for students with GPAs between 1.6 and 2.0, up to 100 minutes a week.

The program, Wright said, has had little value, as it doesn't do any more than help some students at 2.0 GPA.

"I don't like the situation where athletes are coddled," he said. "Communicating our expectations to the students is important. Higher standards are a good thing. It sends a message to students and the community. This would get rid of the shortcut."

However, no action was taken on this suggestion, as it was tabled until the February meeting after it's been refined.

Wright updated the board on damage the ice storm did to buildings in the district.

The administration building, he said, was hardest hit as the ceilings collapsed. Carpet throughout the building will need to be replaced, along with the roof being repaired.

Bids have been taken on carpet and ceiling tiles, but both will wait until the roof has been fixed.

The board approved out of state travel for resource officer Kristi Neal to attend a workshop in Louisville, Ky., April 4. This is so the district can keep the grant for this program. The superintendent and high school principal must also attend.

Armitage will be attending a coaches clinic in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 16-18, and Wright will attend the ASCD meeting in Boston. Mass., March 18 and 19, with the ASCD paying half the bill and the Southwest Educational Cooperative paying the other half.

This is an important quarter for the district, where enrollment is concerned, as it's the last quarter the state examines for calculating next year's funding.

Currently, the district has gained seven students over this time last year.

Wright said the district has received a grant for $34,696 to build a greenhouse for the agriculture department to use for horticulture.

A special meeting will be held Monday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. for the board to hear from district patrons on the topic of block scheduling.