Teacher Sues Over "No Fs" Policy

(Baton Rouge, Louisiana) A fourth-grade teacher at Riveroaks Elementary School, Sheila Goudeau, has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that her school administrators ordered her not to assign any grade lower than 60 percent during grade averaging which has resulted in medical problems.

Ms. Goudeu contends that stress from "fear of being written up for insubordination or other baseless reasons gave her heart palpitations that caused blackouts."

Goudeau says that Louisiana law "prevents any school board member, principal, or other administrative staff members of the school or central staff of a parish or city school board from attempting, directly or indirectly, to influence, alter, or otherwise affect the grade received by a student from his teacher except as specifically permitted by law." […]

Goudeau says she developed a serious heart condition while teaching fourth grade at Riveroaks Elementary School after Principal Sholanda Shamlin forced teachers to violate the law by giving fourth-graders D grades even if they earned Fs.

Prior to the lawsuit, Goudeau filed grievances and allegedly suffered retaliation by Principal Shamlin. Goudeau seeks punitive damages.

Frankly, I suspect that the establishment of a minimum-grade policy is standard in some jurisdictions. How else could one explain a student graduating from high school without the ability to read? I've heard that it happens.

Companion post at EdWatch.