Good point. I think there's something to say for the old-school philosophy of teaching, in general. On the one hand the sensitive kids are expected to toughen up, and that's not a bad philosophy because after all they have to be prepared for life after school. On the other hand the trouble makers need to get cuffed up side the head, like in the old days.

Yes I know legally we can't do that anymore, but maybe we should try to get back to that. Case in point: a couple years ago I attended a grade school reunion, parochial school kids reared in NYC. Talked to a lot of ex-classmates, and one of the things I took away from that reunion was the gratitude that the teachers (nuns) had been as tough as they were, because they made you learn, they made you focus. If you didn't perform back then, you got left behind, but then you got the message and kept up thereafter. The methods and system worked, and virtually all of us came out of that system well educated and well prepared for life.

I don't think you should weaken the standard for the stragglers, because then the bright kids are short-changed.

Maybe I'm starting to ramble here, but I think my point is that being soft and sensitive and considerate for the "fringe" kids is not helping them. Kids know how to manipulate adults and a "sensitive, considerate" system. To some extent you have to show them "this is the way it is, this is what we expect, and this is what you will give us because we know you can do it". "The fact that you may not want to is not a factor, pal".

Just my non-professional opinion.