MovieChat Forums > Boston Public (2000) Discussion > In high school and can't read...?

In high school and can't read...?

posted 18 years ago by NumbersNoMore
16 replies | jump to latest

I saw an episode of this show the other day, where a former student dies in Iraq. Anyhow, it's full of flashbacks showing how the principal had a great relationship with him. It all started in the boy's freshman year, when the principal discovers that he can't read. Now, my question is: is it possible to get promoted to high school if you can't read? Aren't you supposed to pass middle school and won't they figure out that you can't read? Or does it work differently in the United States? Do clarify please, I'm confused...

[–] yiannako 14 years ago

Yes, it happens all the time. I work at a high school where many of the students literacy and numeracy skills are that of a grade 5 student. They get what is called 'socially promoted' throughout elementary school.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kinickibeck 13 years ago

it happns all the time
sevreal people in my hs could read only at a 3rd grade level or worst. the elimentary school teachers failed them and then when they discovered that the kid was still struggling they would do their homework for them so that they could move on and graduate and so the teacher wouldn't get in trouble for not teaching her student how to read.

it happens

[–] haliad 12 years ago

I failed all three years of middle school, and not because I was stupid but because I knew they would pass me onto the next grade anyway. No incentive. When you live in an educational system like that, some illiterate kids will pass through.

In my senior year we were asked to write at college level. When I peer reviewed another girl's paper, it was barely literate and filled with grammatical errors. It was written fourth grade level. This was a girl who I knew from my middle school.