Waterloo Catholic District School Board Five Tier System

I believe this is why the Waterloo District Catholic School Board was glad to see me retire and doesn’t answer my calls.  This bogus memo went viral in an educational loop by going to all school boards in the province.  I was eventually disciplined by the superintendent, but did receive a neutral letter from the Minister of Education, at the time, saying they (the Ministry) are striving to improve the system for the betterment of students. Ironically I was trying to do the same thing with my memo.  

The issue in my mind was that it is almost impossible for a student in an Ontario high school to fail/repeat (what is the politically correct word?) a course.  There is little accountability and the system becomes a sham due to a distinct lack of standards...

Memo:  To all staff

From:  The Education Committee

Re:  Proposed Five Tier Credit Recovery System

______________________________________________________________________

In keeping with school policy, student achievement and accountability directives, the Education Committee recognizes the pedagogical necessity of our current two tier system involving credit recovery and credit rescue.  However, our concerted efforts are now needed to systematically reduce the drop out rate by facilitating student achievement using a more functional five-tier system.

Level 1 and 2

Recovery and Rescue programs as they exist will remain intact thereby allowing marginal achievers to regain credits through minimal intrinsic motivation or self help initiatives.

Level 3

Credit Resuscitation pairs a student with a mentor/tutor in a home instructional program making it possible for students to gain potentially lost credits with minimal effort from the comfort of their own homes without the grueling necessity of tedious class-time and time on task while still enjoying and benefitting socially via face time with friends and contact with peers via cell phones.

Level 4

Credit Transplant is an exciting and innovative concept through which students may actually receive credit transfers from family members who have previously received the same or similar credit and are no longer using it.  This approach serves to minimize educational costs as no teachers or extraneous resources are actually required in the process.

Level 5

Credit Reincarnation is much like credit transplant, but with an exciting twist.  This ingenious approach permits students to resurrect, as it were, unused and otherwise wasted credits from deceased family members.  Only minimal administrative costs are involved.

In the unlikely event a student “slips through the cracks” of this impermeable five tier credit system they may then find it necessary to take a reality check and be held accountable for their own actions or lack of them within the school system.  Perhaps if students open books, come to class (on time and in uniform) and make an effort we, as teachers, can do our best to help them the first time around...

or...

Catch the credit in Summer School