THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9605300215
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 38 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 68 lines
My name is Sarah Brown and I am writing in response to the recent article on grades and sharing the salutatorian's title at Manteo High School.
I can't say that I enjoyed the article because I feel there were a lot of things left out that should be heard. I disagree with the grades being changed at all because Frank C. Shulz was a qualified teacher and therefore his grading system is also qualified.
Chemistry has a reputation of being a hard class, especially under Shulz. The students sign up for his course knowing that it will be difficult and that, as a result, their grades may suffer. When I took Investigative Chemistry under Shulz last year my grade fell slightly - not because of any discrepancy in his teaching, but because of his method of teaching, commonly referred to by students as the ``Shulz method.'' He expected the work done with a high level of competency, on time, which is something every teacher should expect, though that is not always the case.
The courses he taught, Investigative Chemistry and AP Chemistry, are both weighted courses due to the level of difficulty. AP Chemistry is a college-level course and, I dare say, if this were a college atmosphere, the students would have to take the grade they earn, instead of being handed a high grade regardless of the effort they put into the class.
I heard about the changing of grades from a student in AP Chemistry. The grades were changed arbitrarily, without any discussion with parents, teachers or students, which Principal Walterhouse openly admitted in The Virginian-Pilot article. I find this unfortunate since all of these people were directly affected, and had no say in the outcome. Several students and teachers attempted to speak with Mr. Walterhouse and Superintendent Holleman to express their disapproval of the grade changes, but both were unavailable, and the grades were changed before anything could be done.
I knew of my class standing after the third nine weeks (before the grades were changed), but guidance told me that the announcement would have to wait for that decision. Tom Blanchard was notified that he was salutatorian, though I was not notified that I had been denied it. I spoke with Mr. Walterhouse, along with several other concerned individuals, and the decision was made to have two salutatorians. Walterhouse admitted to me that he should have kept with the policy of ranking after the third nine weeks, but that he could not take the salutatorian title away from Blanchard after already having given it to him.
Personally, the class ranking makes less difference to me than making sure the school keeps to its previously established system of equity. By changing the students' grades, the basis for which has been withheld, Manteo High School has invalidated its grading system. How can students' grades in one class reflect the grade of another? I worked hard for four years, always maintaining above a 4.0, but that effort will not pay off because of a situation I have no control over. As a result, my faith in the administration has plummeted.
On a less personal note, the outcome of the situation raises several questions in my mind, as well as the minds of others. How do the students who worked hard and received a good grade feel about others receiving almost equal grades without having to put forth the same level of effort? Will changing grades become a common occurrence? Will it apply to any situation, or are there guidelines? Why not change the grades of every student Shulz has had in the last seven years? What is to stop it from going further - why not change the grades of any teacher who has flaws in his or her personal life? Will the students' and parents' views be ignored in every situation that arises at Manteo High School?
I do not feel the situation is to the extent of being ``so traumatic for these kids,'' though it is unfortunate for the students, detrimental to the school system, and a direct violation of the principles of Manteo High School.
Sarah E. Brown
Manteo by CNB