There's a lot of pressure to get good grades, and getting the best grades is the biggest reason for cheating. Everyone demands that students get good grades: parents, coaches, colleges.
These are only a few statements made by students interviewed from several different schools, including East, West and Highland high schools.Many students in high schools today think there is a big problem with dishonesty, cheating and manipulation. "There's so much pressure to do well," said West High senior April Pochynok. "I think there's more of a problem (with cheating) than people think."
There is a problem not only with students cheating but with parents who insist a teacher raise a grade that has already been recorded. Partially as a result of all the pressure for a student to succeed academically, a grade-change policy exists. According to this policy, grade changes can be made when grades have been recorded incorrectly due to clerical or computer-related problems, when a teacher has mistakenly not added in a certain score when calculating a final grade or has inadvertently given the wrong grade to a student.
The policy guidelines are very specific. All paperwork is only available to and must be filled out by the teacher requesting the change, stating why a change is needed. Students cannot fill out grade-change forms themselves. The principal must also approve all grade changes.
Parents and students can still discuss the matter with the teacher, even if they cannot fill anything out. "Certain parents and students put pressure on teachers to change grades," said Melissa Anderson, chemistry teacher at West High. Joyce Gray, principal of West High, said, "Parents will come in concerned about their student's grades. I refer them back to the teacher. Really, the teacher owns his or her grades."
If the issue of a grade change goes far enough, however, more paperwork and hassle, in most cases, are added to the situation. One of the parties involved usually gives in somewhere and sometime.
"It's a problem when teachers cave in," continued Anderson. Ideally, school administrators would stay neutral when trying to solve such a problem, she said.
Students must resolve grade problems quickly. There is a one-year limit on grade changes. If a grade is given the first quarter of this school year, it must be fixed by the first quarter of next school year.
"It's really hard to get a grade change. I tried for an entire year to get a grade fixed. Finally, my time ran out and I couldn't do anything," lamented Abigail McIntosh, a sophomore at West High. Beth Horman, a senior at Highland High, sees it differently. "Students cry, parents complain and pressure. Sometimes, there are exceptions and arrangements made for students."
Class rank and grade-point average are very crucial for students competing to go to highly selective universities. The grade-change policy guidelines clearly state what should be done when grade changes are necessary. The policy itself is well-written. Some situations, and individuals along with their motives, are questionable.
Gray firmly stands by the policy. "I think it's a good policy. It takes out the guesswork and adds appropriateness to the situation."
Ethel Tovar is a student at West High School.