Reply #26: Social "promotion" may be part of the problem [View All]

Who cares that Johnny won't be able to hang with his "buds" in class next year? Who cares if it damages Johnny's self-esteem.

If one person isn't passing a class then perhaps the fault lies in the person. Admittedly, if a person fails consistently there may be something on a physical/developmental level causing the problem. Either way, by holding them back the problem may get identified and hopefully given a chance to be corrected.

If several people are failing a class that could mean there's a problem with the way the class is being taught. However, if those people are promoted anyway then how is the problem identified and corrected?

I had a couple of friends who were held back for a year in elementary school. Being held back the one time didn't seem to damage them in the short or long term and perhaps it motivated them to be better students so they wouldn't be held back again.

I know that's not the end all, be all to the educational problem but it may help in some small way.