Norfolk considers lowering academic hurdle for freshman athletes

Well put. The world needs burger flippers and nail techs. If everyone was allowed an equal opportunity to EARN their education who would pass us our food through the drive-thru window?

Oh wait... we do all have an equal opportunity to earn our education. Some people think it should be handed to them along with food stamps and a welfare check though.

If we lower the standards, what are we teaching our children? We are giving students something they didn't earn.. Keep the waiver in place. Let the kids play and fall in love with their sport, but yank it from them if the don't belly up to the bar, so to speak. If you don't make the grades, you don't play. Simple as that. The decision is made by the student. Disappointment is part of life. If you want to play, you have to pay.

Our teens have some awful role models.. don't get me started on that topic.

Hummm, I guess I should listen more closely to my daughter's rants (age 17 and a Junior) I was told I was a "mean mom" for grounding her- even though she made honor roll, she received a "C" on her report card. Yes, you read right- grounded for ONE C. She'll learn grades come first. No car, no sports, no cell, no life until progress reports. Baamm, it works every time.

Signed, "Mean Mom" and proud of it.

Brilliant movie, only it won't take 500 years for us to get there at this rate.

I can't believe 2.0 is an increase over previous requirements.

There are many adult/youth rec league teams that use the fields behind Granby in the evening after the Granby teams are long gone. Are you positive you are not confusing them with Granby? From what I hear, all schools have problems with individuals who choose to skip study hall but entire teams I doubt it. The idea is not lowering the standard it giving freshman a “clean slate.” Lowering the standard would be taking away the 2.0 rule. When did this become about race? I thought it was about athletics and education.

If this is the solution that Norfolk believe will reach their troubled youth then Norfolk should prepare these children for their fate.

Instead of sports activities where so few actually will make it to the top, Norfolk should set up school programs that will prepare them for more realisitic employment opportunities. Here are a few suggestions and I invite everyone to submit their own suggestions.

1. Competitive French Frying & Advanced Burger Assembly
2. Nail Tech 101 (I think that is already offered)
3. Baby Making without the Responsibility - Previously offered only in the peninsula
4. Government Aide - It's Not For Everyone But Why Not?
5. Texas Hold'em Strategies - Advanced Denial Technique and the Race Card Revealed

I supposed holding kids accountable for their actions or inactions is out of the question?

If NPS and the surrounding city systems all had the same standards for incoming athletes, this article would not have been written and the disturbing facts of high school sports would not be known to the general public. Since I now know that the schools have this policy, I think it is indeed racist, and sexist also. Who seems to be having a problem with the grade standards? Black males? So, if the school doesn't educate them and allows them to play sports for their "self esteem", then the school appears blameless when the uneducated athletes end up in prison or unemployed. IMHO, I'm not buying this. If you knew as a child, and your parents knew, that your GPA would have to be 2.0 to play, then you and your parent(s) need to have your grades ready to play in HS. And school administrators, do what you are being paid to do--make sure ALL students get help to graduate, not just the athletes. Hey everybody, stop perpetuating the underclass.

Once again "norfolk08" chooses to continue the lie but that is your story and you are sticking to it, I can respect that. From what I hear all schools have individual players who attempt to skip study halls but I have never heard of entire teams skipping. Do you have in information to validate this claim? Those teams you see late are the many adult/youth rec league teams (unless one of the school's teams have a game) that use the field in the evening after the school's teams are done. Now that’s the facts but of course you would not know because like you said you are just driving by. Don’t pick on Granby because their coach and principal were not afraid to comment on the issue. Let me know the next time you are driving by because we can meet and continue this discussion.

I know of a first-year High School English teacher from another area who was told her contract would not be renewed for next year because she did not fit in with the "politics" of the school. Her indiscretion? She believed that the students in her 12th grade English class should actually know the material required by the Commonwealth of VA for graduating seniors. She also refused to give a passing grade to some football players in her junior and sophomore classes. Sports (especially football) rule in a small town. She had parents come to the school and threaten her. She is now looking for another job, outside of teaching. So you see, it's not just students that suffer from "dumming down" academic standards. VA lost a quality teacher who believed in actually teaching students in her class. Parents who believe sports are more important than academics are just kidding themselves, and will never hold their kids accountable for failure in life anyway. How many times have you seen a family on the news saying that their family member who just murdered someone was a good person? Could be because the parents never paid attention to or cared about what their child was involved wit

Did anyone listen to LeBron James' interview following the Cav's win last night? His grammar was so bad, it was embarassing. Fortunately, he is set for life, so his grammar won't matter. But what about the hundred thousand Lebron wannabes who aren't set for life? With the dumbing down of tests and grade inflation, if you can't sleep your way to a 2.0, something is wrong. It should be 3.0 to play sports in high school. Listen to LeBron next time he is interviewed. What must Europeans think when they hear him talk?

While my GPA when I graduated High School left a great deal to be desired, I can honestly say what my GPA was had nothing to do with my level of intelligence. I graduated with a 1.7 from High School and now maintain above a 3.5 in college. I simply didn't care enough about School since it was more of an escape than a place to learn although I did learn a great deal. A GPA has a lot to do with how much work someone puts into their studies. Clearly I didn't put all that much work into mine, but there are cases where children are simply LD and unable to make the grade. I think on a case by case basis is how the GPA should be ruled. Are we dealing with children who like in my case simply don't care? Or with children who CAN'T do any better? Those with LD who cannot do any better than what they are putting out then they should be granted a waiver, however, those who don't care? Heck no. As for that racist comment. There is NOTHING preventing the BLACK man from gaining the same education a WHITE man gets. You are in the same schools and are subject to the same education. Blacks are just as intelligent as Whites so I suggest you get over yourself and your racist attitude. Your color does

A problem. In 1981 I had to have 21 credits, my gpa was 3.8 until my senior year. My last year in the Portsmouth Public system gave me the chance to use my intelligence and work after I finished. I am now a designer for an airplane company in Seattle. If you drop the gpa to a 2, it is less than a C. When I played football, I had to keep over a C (around 70%) to play. I worked my but off and made the team. I lettered twice before senior year, the problem was we had a better team walking the halls, but these kids could not even achieve a C. They did not care. Keep sports to a 2.5 or better average. Give them credit if over and hope they play without getting hurt.

"That academic requirements are racist. They are just another way for the Man to keep people down."

That was great. This poster is right though. Then another group and another and so on. Eventually, when the dust settles from all of the lawsuits, our population will be so pathetically stupid it literally cannot function.

If you lower the standards to hinder competition in life then it removes the goal. What is worth achieving when you are shown the world can be lowered down to you? That is quite the temptation to provide for a young man/woman. Here dummy, just catch this ball when I throw it to you.

Way to lower the bar Norfolk! Just keep on proving that the world needs minimum wage workers too right?

..The Norfolk city school administrators should donate some of their "fat salary" and pay for tutoring. Personally, I would fire every last one of you! "YOU", as adults and community leaders have added to the "illiteracy" of today's youth and the additional weakening of the United States.

Ok, after nine years of teaching and you don't even have a "C" average, you ought to look at the school system for the real cause of the problem. Less than C averages just don't happen by surprise in the ninth grade. The D grades have been coming for years, and the school system is afraid to do what ought to be done: mandatory after-school additional instruction, and hold people back a year if they don't cut it. Instead, the city will generate high school "graduates" who have only learned that you don't have to do any work to earn someting, and then they'll expect the rest of the world to be the same. Don't come crying to me when the world passes you by and all you have is your gang and your $5 per hour career job to be proud of for the rest of your life.

As a vo-tech instructor, I have seen students past the HS level not even understand the day-to-day level of knowledge I had to learn to pass HS and then some! A 2.0 is FAILING! It is a FAILURE to allow a student who can't read, write or pass ANY course at the HS level to engage in any sport! I loved the comment "..academic requirements are racist. They are just another way for the Man to keep people down". I know where that came from, just by the way it was worded! It is so late for the students of Hampton Roads and the U.S. They are dumbed down! They have been dumbed down! They will end up working at minimum wage and have no hope or faith to better themselves through education! But they will have the Vick's and Iverson's to look to won't they? City of Norfolk, I avoid "Your" city for the urban cesspool it has become! Someone please tell me, where these so-called 2.0 students will be in 10 years? Anyone want a job with a future? Correctional facilities!

I am a college graduate. I excelled academically my entire school career. My two children are learning disabled. Both struggled to PASS. Both were good at sports and played in the neighborhood leagues. My son even played soccer in middle school. But they couldn't maintain the gpa and couldn't do any extra-curricular school activities. My son dropped out and works a minimum wage job. My daughter is in the GED program and will finish this year (fingers crossed). Neither of my children has what one would call "book smarts" but both have an incredible work ethic that any employer would love to have. Would they have stayed in school longer if allowed extra-curricular activities? I don't know. I do know they worked very hard until they became dispirited. After they were lost, there was no turning around.

In response to sw46258

Try sitting behind the athletic fields any afternoon this week and you will see why your defense of the school is null and void. It's a fact that some teams skip study hall. It's a fact that some teams are there that late. You can't argue with facts.

then sport are a "NO"!

These kids should be in forced after school study hall. If the grades aren't acceptable after 1 semester then the PARENTS should be required to attend study hall with them!

Get real.

Has anyone thrown an "R" bomb yet?????

In response to statement made by "norfolk08"

When you make a comment please know what you are talking about "norfolk08" all Granby athletic teams are required to be in a study hall before practice and those who are at-risk are required to be in a seperate tutorial study hall. There is no Granby team that pratices beyond 6p. Where did you get your information from this is an out-right lie and the administrators should remove this post. It is slander!

Did you know Granby is one of the few Nofolk schools that allow area youth/adult rec league teams to use the fields.

Well, I can only envision Norfolk School Board requesting budget not to build schools but, football fields, basketball courts, and baseball fields in order to keep those students away from gangs. Gee, is this how we are going to educate the future leaders of this country? Educators--go to other countries and tell them your plan and they will be shaking their heads and we will the laughing stock of the world.

So, this will keep kids off the streets and not join gangs or get in trouble?

How about responsible parents keeping kids off streets and doing their homework?

And, there isn't a good track record that even if they go on to professional athletics they won't end up thugs anyway --- just look in our area at the likes of Michael Vick and Allen Iverson.

Disgusting. Shame, Norfolk.

Well, abandoning this 2.0 GPA rule would only prove the "Dumb Jock" Stereotype.
And I thought schools were concerned only about academics. Clearly, I am wrong. Schools are only interested in having their names and reputations glorified in the sports pages of the local paper.
Because, honestly, who remembers the "year that the academic scores at so-and-so high school were so high" nope, people remember the year that "so-and-so high school was the reigning champs in all their sports categories"

Yet another reason I'd never live in Norfolk. What a cesspool that city is.

When I was in middle and high school, my parents wouldn't allow for us to participate in extra-curricular activities if our grades weren't on par...I can say it's paid off for me...

When I was coaching kids in baseball for the Senior Division of Little League I had 10 out of 14 boys on the tournament team who were playing either JV or Varsity baseball for Grandby, Norview, Catholic and Barry Robinson and who ALL knew before they entered the 9th grade that they had to have and maintain a 2.0 GPA or they could not play JV or Varsity sports of any kind. Then the school system got lax and for awhile lowered the GPA to let the Dumb Jocks play JV or Varsity sports. Then the up came concerning the public school system was educating a bunch of idiots, not just black but also white students. The GPA was raised back to 2.0 and now the race card is being utilized saying it is unfair ro the black student athletes. Fifty years ago when intergration started the requirement where I come from was that even in the black schools to praticipate in athletics in HS you had to have a 2.0. The black student athletes who was on my football, basketball and all the other JV or varsity teams had GPAs of 2.0 or greater as they said they weren't dumb.

Just do away with grades altogether, and put up a big sign outside that says "DAYCARE". That will save some people from always having to rationalize things away, or pretend like they're being creative and solving new problems.

The job of the school is to educate first and uphold educational standards. The job of the parents is to keep their kids disciplined and out of trouble (gangs, jail). Playing sports should be a reward for maintaining your school skills, not participated in lieu of. If I brought home a "D" my parents pulled me out, they didn't wait for the school to do it. Obviously though we emphasize athletics over education, so that when they don't get drafted or picked up by any professional sports teams they can then take their education (or lack thereof) and enter the workforce as a contributing member of society, most likely by robbing your or dealing your kids drugs because they can't even read the greeting script for Walmart.

I think we should allow teachers to use the paddle on students again. I remember my dad telling me stories about getting spanked if he acted up in class or if he chose not to do the assigned work.

But seriously, I have no problem with letting these kids play sports and fail classes. As long as I don't have to pay their welfare for the rest of their lives when they finally realize they aren't good enough to go pro. And I'll make sure I'm nice to them when they take my order at MacDonald's.