The Disappearing "F"

There is growing concern across North America, mostly among teachers, that high school students are losing an essential right. It is a right that is as important to their success as any other factor. What is it? The right to fail.

Recently, a series of reports appeared in a Canadian news outlet about this very subject. In “Failure is Not an Option,” Louise Brown ponders whether we are damaging students and society alike by lowering standards and creating safety nets for students every step of the way through high school.

At first, you might be pretty happy to hear that the “F” is becoming extinct. But is it really a good thing?

Just image that you’ve worked really hard to get a research paper finished on time. You’ve spent hours pouring over research and organizing your thoughts on paper. On the night before the due date you stay up until 2 a.m. proofreading and applying the finishing touches.

You are very proud as you submit the final product to your teacher, but then you discover that a few of your fellow students just don’t bother. Instead, they put off the assignment until it’s convenient for them. They receive chance after chance to turn it in. On the last day of school, they turn in a rushed, disorganized paper and get a passing grade.

How would that make you feel?

Some experts think that by taking away a student’s right to fail, we are damaging that student—but we are creating a situation that is even more detrimental to students who really work at their grades.

What do you think? Should we preserve the student’s right to fail? Do you see this problem happening at your high school? How does it make you feel?