Is this fair to the students who work hard for their grades? Are schools sending a message that you don't have to work hard to be rewarded?

There are a number of reasons for students to be promoted, even graduate, without having met the system's criteria-- over crowded classes, understaffed faculty and threats. Teachers in troubled inner city neighborhoods are sometimes afraid to fail a student for fear of bodily harm.

All these factors contribute to teachers being forced to lower their standards, students feeling cheated and high school diplomas becoming a worthless piece of paper. Above all else, the promise of an equal opportunity education ends up to be a lie.