With Coronavirus Disrupting College, Should Every Student Pass? | Hacker News Reader

With Coronavirus Disrupting College, Should Every Student Pass?

nytimes.com

2 pointsfortran776 comments

My college switched classes to an online format and we closed the college for two weeks to give faculty time to make the switch. So in addition to hastily converting classes to an online format we lost two weeks. I’m passing all of my students. There’s no way I’ll fail someone. I’m keeping my courses open until 2021 and will answer emails from current students until then so that they can get help with the course content they need in the classes they take in Fall 2021.

I know some of my colleagues don’t share this view. At least, they don’t openly share this view. Administration is making a show about keeping up standards and rigor but this is simply not doable in the present situation. Help those students who have the time, means, and luxury to continue their studies and don’t punish the ones who don’t.

I see no problem with giving the students the option of going Pass/Fail instead of a grade, but passing everyone no matter what?

For some subjects, it would be difficult to take the next class (like Diff-EQ) with out first really understanding the previous classes (Calc 1 and 2). How can you justify passing everyone?

Millions of people have suddenly lost their jobs. Millions are ordered to shelter in place. Millions are going to go stir crazy. Child abuse and spousal abuse will increase. Mental health issues will be exacerbated. I have no desire to contribute to someone’s anguish or anxiety in such a time as this.

If they fail the next course because they don’t know this semester’s content then they’ll probably need to retake my class. Which is what they’d have to do if I fail them. If they pass the next course then they shouldn’t fail my class regardless of the work they put in this semester.

I teach mathematics.

Well, you can give them a "Pass" or "withdraw" with the option of going on to the next class, or taking it again (for no charge). That may be the best compromise.

A withdraw means they still have to pay for the course and given that student loan debt is largely not dischargeable in bankruptcy I won’t ask them to withdraw. My college has not gone with the option of pass/fail. I’m giving all of my students a grade and no grade will be lower than a C this semester. I don’t have the ability to let someone take a course without paying for it.

Passing someone who didn't pass seems like fraud to me.

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