Interestingly enough, where I live a private school would be far more suspected of doing such a thing (because how came that the parents PAY and you leave their child for second year!?).
This entire story-line is weird and badly thought out. If all Allison wanted, was to criticize the public school-system and show that pupils don’t have to work anymore to get good grades, then why did she start the entire story with a call from Jeri’s teacher expressing concern about Jeri not working and getting low grades? That’s the opposite of all the strips that came afterwards.
Well said bawana! Your description of the moving line is exactly how I felt in public schools. Now I see the same thing happening to my children, both the “normal” ones and my special needs child.
Sadly, research indicates that holding students back (retention, in educator-speak) rarely improves their performance and frequently makes it worse compared to passing a comparably-performing student to the next grade.
paha_siga about 11 years ago
Interestingly enough, where I live a private school would be far more suspected of doing such a thing (because how came that the parents PAY and you leave their child for second year!?).
snarkm about 11 years ago
This entire story-line is weird and badly thought out. If all Allison wanted, was to criticize the public school-system and show that pupils don’t have to work anymore to get good grades, then why did she start the entire story with a call from Jeri’s teacher expressing concern about Jeri not working and getting low grades? That’s the opposite of all the strips that came afterwards.
ghek about 11 years ago
Maybe her grades were mixed up with a students and they got each others report cards.
Donna Kilroy about 11 years ago
Well said bawana! Your description of the moving line is exactly how I felt in public schools. Now I see the same thing happening to my children, both the “normal” ones and my special needs child.
jbarnes about 11 years ago
Sadly, research indicates that holding students back (retention, in educator-speak) rarely improves their performance and frequently makes it worse compared to passing a comparably-performing student to the next grade.