There’s a fundamental dishonesty to all this. If you get a “D” you’re not “emerging.” Emerging implies improvement. But there’s a good chance you’re treading water at best. In any event, you’re falling behind, not meeting standards. You need to be told so. Honestly. In clear language. You need to hear that you need to shape up. Because when a kid emerges from the warm embrace of MMSD, he’ll find himself in a world that does evaluate him, does pass judgement on his performance and sometimes does so in harsh terms that don’t spare his feelings.
How we deal with failure is probably the best test we can have. Do we allow it to ruin us? Do we accept the evaluation, figure out how we need to improve and get going? Or do we blame the system?
My real concern about all this is that at MMSD it’s about that last point. Nobody fails, but those whose work is incomplete are the victims of a system, not subject to their own shortcomings.
Failure can be a valuable thing. God knows I’ve had enough of it in my life — including in my early years in elementary school. Avoiding that experience — feeling bad about yourself, about how you’ve performed, but taking responsibility for your own shortcomings and resolving to do better — is robbing kids of something valuable. It looks to me like MMSD’s understanding of that material isn’t even developing.
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A.B.T.: “Ain’t been taught.”
8,897 (!) Madison 4k to 3rd grade students scored lower than 75% of the students in the national comparison group during the 2024-2025 school year.
Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average (now > $26,000 per student) K-12 tax & spending practices. This, despite long term, disastrous reading results.
Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?