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About Rogue news. (Ashland, Or.) 19??-???? | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1967)
Grading: What System For AHS? by Dave Work and Jan Gray Is Ashland High School's grading system ade quate? Is it even desirable? Are there other systems better equipped to function in today's educationalized society? Certainly, the system is adequate, or at least as adequate as most systems can be. It does not, how ever, provide an efficient or beneficial method of re porting one's quality of work. In our present system, too much stress is placed on semester exams and semester grades. They are not actually a true evalua tion of the knowledge the student has gained in a semester. Many of the mid-term tests place greater emphasis on minute details than on general knowl edge. Semester grades are unfair to a student if he did poorly in the first and did well in the second, or vice versa. The two grades would be averaged together and would not give a true record of the quality of work he did all year. Another System Another system, the accumulative grading sys tem, has been tried and proven successful and ade quate and efficient in many schools in Oregon, spe cifically in the Portland School District. Under this system, a student receites a grade each six weeks, but this grade is a composite of all the work done from the beginning of the year. That is, his first report card is a record of the work done during the first six weeks, the second a report of the work for 12 weeks, the third is a record of the work done for 18 weeks, and so on. The final grade received is a report of the work done for 36 weeks, or all the grades received on daily work and tests are averaged, instead of all the grades received on report cards. The final grade received at the end of the year is the only grade sent to col leges for admittance. Under this system, only six weeks tests are given, placing less emphasis on the test itself and more on the quality of the total six weeks work. Semester grades are not given, giving a student a whole year to bring his grade up as high as possible. Comparison Compared to the present grading system, the accumulative system immediately points out the in accuracies in the former. An example would illustrate this point: A student receives a "B", than an "A", then a "B"; and an "A" on the semester exam. At AHS he would most likely receive a "B" as his se mester grade; a grade showing improvement, rather than his semester's accomplishment. The accumulative grading system would treat the situation diilcrently. First of all, there would be no semester exam nor would he receive a semester grade. Though the stu dent would receive a "B" for the third grading period, he would have 18 more weeks to raise his grade to an "A"; only the final grade being reported to col leges or other schools to which he might transfer. Again in the case of the student: If he received straight "A's" the rest of the year, at AHS he would have a 3.5 (a "B" and an "A"), but under the accumu lative system he would have a 4.0, showing that his average quality of work was of "A" caliber, not of "B plus." The latter system gives a true representa tion of the average quality of work he has done from the beginning of the year. College Records Colleges do not question the accumulative grad ing system's merits and accept them as a true record of a student's scholarship. Why should AHS use a system that is inaccurate and unfair to the students when they could use a system just as effective, much more accurate, and more beneficial to the students? Could the students at AHS benefit from a change to the accumulative grading system? Is it actually a better system for the students? Would a change in the present system be practical? Perhaps a critical evaluation of the semester and the accumulative grading systems is necessary in order to be sure that one is better for AHS than the other. It is the duty of the administration to study all systems carefully, and if a change is needed, one should be made. High-lights By Alan Engstront INGLE DRUG ON THE CORNER OF 2nd & MAIN Phone 482-1321 "In Business For Your Health" TEENAGE AUTO INSURANCE A SPECIALTY WILEY & REINHOLDT 369 E. Main 482-1921 FOR COMPLETE BEAUTY CARE IT'S Ashland Beauty Shop PERMANEN'TS STYLING CUTTING TINTING MANICURING 482-1276 149 Fast Main Aslilani Having a study hall, especially first period study hall, helps you learn to appreciate the school library very much. By carefully inspecting the shelves in your free time, which is usually all the time, you can discover some books of true literary greatness. One book that is really a find is Blackstone's Book of Marvelously Magical Tricks To Astound Nearly Everyone, or something along that line. However, after you are tired of impressing and astound ing your friends (usually in two days), it might be a good idea to check out the book entitled Whiterock's Seven Ways to Improve Your Sagging Personality After Using Blackstone's Monstrous Magical Book. Perhaps one of the best things about the library is that it has something for everyone. Track and field buffs may find it interest ing to know that the fastest measured speed for a spider is 1.73 feet per second or 1.17 miles per hour in the case of the tegenaria atrica. The long jump record for a flea is thirteen inches, held by a California rodent flea since 1910. The high jump record is seven inches. Couldn't someone using an extensive training program develop a new champion here at AHS? History fans and other interested persons will be glad to learn that the first English grammar book written and published by an American and used by an American school was The First Ey Rudiments of Grammar, Applied to the English Tongue, for One Who is Extremely Desirous to Promote Good Literature in Amer ica, and Epecially a Right English Education. For the Use of Schools. (Honest.) For lighter reading, I turn to the paperback rack. Actually, I never check out the exploits of Tarzan on the Dark Side of Mars or Doc Savage in his battle with the Monster That Laid an Egg on Little Rock, Scoring a Ctenoiden Victory; I just read them in the library. The library also provides a wide selection of magazines for anyone and everyone. In fact, I was really surprised when I picked up Seventeen Monday morning. (By mistake.) Its stories are really interesting and of acceptable quality, although the advertisements are a bit distracting. I think Mr. Haugen deserves a lot of thanks for the liberal checking out policy of the library and for the lounge chairs and study booths. Probably the best way to thank him is to return that book that was due in October or to write what you really wanted to say in your report on another piece of paper, instead of on the woodwork of the booths. Right, Green Hornet? 7 ai-alyiUf, WITH ANNIE The time for student body elections is almost upon us once again. Within the next few weeks students will be making their choice of leaders for the next school year. With the com ing of election week, students should begin considering new ideas for campaigning. The elec tion of student body officers is handled in various ways in dif ferent scholos. McNary For the first time in the school's history, campaigning will be allowed at McNary High School in Salem. The campaign ing will, however, be limited to a designated area in their Little Theater foyer. This practice may sound un usual to students of Ashland High School where campaign posters line the halls during election week. West Seattle Another practice not used at AHS is the primary election. This method is used at West Seattle High School to limit the number of students running for student body offices. ruins9 JUNIORS Wednesday, April 5 was the date set for the basic math test for next year's seniors. The test was taken by all juniors to deter mine who will be required to take basic math in their senior year. A make-up date for the test has been set for Wednesday, April 12. DEBATE The state debate tournament is scheduled to be held April 13 through April 15 on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis. Five AHS students will attend. AFS The week of April 17 through April 21 has been designated as AFS week. A dance to be held April 21 will cap the week-long events. SOPHS AND JUNIORS Prometheus tests have been tentatively scheduled for April 18. The tests are open to juniors and sophomores only. The test will be part of the basis for de termining which students are selected to attend next sum mer's session of Project Prome theus at Southern Oregon College. Doi in s CHORUS A chorus concert has been scheduled for April 20. The event will be held in the Eng lish Building lecture hall. All students are invited to attend. ELECTIONS April 27 is the date set for the annual campaign assembly. Each candidate will present a campaign speech at this time. Voting will be done on Friday, April 28 during English classes. INTER-CLUB COUNCIL Inter-club Council will spon sor the election dance on April 28 from 8:00 11:00. Election winners will be announced at this time. MAJORETTES All girls interested in trying out for majorettes contact Mr. Maddox or either of the major ettes. Tryouts will be held some time in early May. ALWAYS FIRST QUALITY Downtown Ashland DRIVE in n I r fRENCH FRIES SHAKES HAMBURtiERS CHEESEBURGERS HAKES ) :burgersI JCF "Your Partner in Personal Progress" Jackson County Federal Savings & Loan Assn. 337 East Main St. - Ashland, Oregon Home Office: Medford Klothes Kloset "CLOTHES FOR THE TEEN MAN ON THE GO" Full Line of Shirts by: Kennington Lancer Capri Pants by Lee (Permanent Press) CONGRATULATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL SEASON SUPPORT Till GRIZZLIES Wolr DeBoer The Man From Dodge "LETS SUPPORT THE GRIZZLIES REAL GOOD" WALT'S LITHIA MOTORS Chrysler Dodge Dodge Trucks PROFESSIONAL AMPEX RECORDERS DISC PRESSING Siskiyou Studio Special Band Group Recording Competitive Prices Local or Out of Town Fred Lewis Phone 482-4079 On the Plaza 482 -1911
