Social Promotion

According to an American Federation of Teachers study, 15 to 19 percent of students are held back a grade level every year. Phillip is one of them. It’s his second year of seventh grade. “I wouldn’t do the homework or class work,” says Phillip.

For two years, Phillip passed from one grade to the next even though he refused to do his school work. He made it to seventh grade through social promotion, a controversial policy that allows teachers to pass students to keep them with their class, despite failing grades. Opponents say social promotion hurts kids and their community. “I think we are doing children and the business community a disservice, if we do not retain these kids and get them academically prepared,” says Louise Radloff, a school board member.

But others say social promotion is the lesser of two evils. Kids who are forced to repeat grades have a higher drop out rate. “In school, at least the have a chance to be successful,” says Jerry Hagger, a school administrator. “You may only reach ten percent, but you’ve lost them if they drop out.”

Phillip has no plans to drop out. “I’m doing it this year and I’m passing almost every class.”

What Parents Should Know

While Clinton and other politicians argue against social promotion, research suggests that retention is a less than adequate alternative.

Recent research suggests that retention is not effective and can actually be harmful. A 1989 University of Georgia study found that kids who were held back suffered in areas of student achievement, attendance, personal adjustment and attitude toward school. The study compared those retained to low performing students who were promoted and found those retained fared worse than those who moved ahead.

Other studies in more recent years have made similar findings. Still, experts say retention and social promotion are polar opposites. Children perform best somewhere in the middle ground. The greatest chance for rehabilitating students is to attempt to work with students before they reach the point of failure and before teachers are faced with the decision of whether to promote or retain.

School reform including after-school programs, reading programs, summer school and other academic activities can help mentor and monitor kids before it’s too late.