Judge hands CCISD a setback on failing grades

A Travis County judge has ruled against Clear Creek and other school districts fighting a 2009 state law that prohibits schools from setting a floor on failing grades so that students don't give up.
Writes the Houston Chronicle's Ericka Mellon:
The districts argued that their policies prohibiting teachers from awarding grades lower than a certain number - typically a 50 - helped keep students from getting discouraged and dropping out of school.
Without the policy, Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Greg Smith, said, "I think you close the light at the end of the tunnel for some students."
Get the full story from chron.com.
Some teachers argued that giving a 50 to a student who earned a zero is unethical and doesn't prepare a child for college.
Most readers commenting on chron.com's story concurred:
"Giving a "student" an unearned grdae even a 50 is like paying a "worker" for not doing work even minimum wage. It smacks of "entitlement" to things unearned and cheapens the accomplishments of others who work for and earn what they receive! "
But some readers disagreed:
"You seem to think a 50 is some kind of gift. A kid who makes lower than that probably won't pull it up either way. That's what people don't understand; kids who routinely get 50's rarely go on to pass the class. But it does give that handful of kids who had legitimate reasons for falling behind a chance to pull it up. A vast majority of the teachers I know agree with this."
What do you think? Comment below.