It happens every year during graduation season, but it’s not made public; parents pressuring, and in some cases even threatening teachers (and sometimes their spouses), to change the grades of their children.
Information received by KHJ News indicate that a high number of students don’t have the requisite grades to receive their high school diplomas.
We have asked the Director of Education, Talauega Dr. Samasoni Asaeli, for the actual figures and are awaiting his response.
Two high school teachers have shared their experience with what apparently happens frequently in public high schools, around graduation season.
They spoke on condition that they not be named and that their schools also not be identified.
According to one of the teachers, this has been happening for many years —students slack off during their senior years and end up not having a passing grade. Then their parents pressure teachers into giving their children a pass.
The teacher said that in the past, assistance has been sought from police after parents threatened when the teacher stood their ground and refused to do what the parents wanted.
“I have reached out to the cops to file a complaint and they said it was out of their hands when students and parents visit my home,” said the teacher.
The educator said, some teachers are too scared and cave in to the parents.
And the same thing is happening this graduation season.
The teacher pointed out that there’s a policy for absences, where if a student misses a certain number of days they automatically fail but it is not enforced.
“Sometimes the student can be absent and don’t submit school work the whole semester and the parents come to us wanting us to pass them at the 11th hour.”
According to the teacher, this has been happening long before the COVID lockdown and restrictions.
“And even if I fail a student, the administration in that school still passes them. I see them walking during graduation.”
The teacher said, this means the school administration has tampered with the grades and “that is against federal law.”
A second teacher said, seniors that aren’t graduating either failed first semester, second semester or both, so they are behind on credits needed to graduate.
“Some students were telling their parents that there wasn’t any work for them or that they already did it,” said the teacher. “It resulted in tons of last minute submissions and make up work. It was quite frustrating for teachers because we had to constantly follow up with students about missing work and even then, some still wouldn’t do it or attend classes. Only when I told my students that they needed to do the work or they wouldn’t pass, did they finally start submitting assignments.”
According to this teacher, the suspension of in person classes may be a factor but all students were eventually provided with devices.
Also, in-person classes resumed about a month before graduation “but the students who aren’t graduating just didn’t do any of the work.”
The educator added, “I think the parents are also liable. They should’ve been checking on their kids and following up with teachers way before graduation.”
“I know the counselors were calling parents almost daily to remind them to get their kids online.”
The teacher told KHJ News that summer school will be available for students who need to make up their credit.
