Giving grades for effort has produced a false sense of achievement under the aegis of producing self-esteem. Studies have shown that, contrary to popular opinion, self-esteem does not produce character, it has produced confident and aggressive criminals. Studies have proven that children retain material when it is presented incrementally and reinforced over a period of time. Drill and repetition, just as Bear Bryant understood, produces proficiency. There are some basic skills that are so critical that the time spent on drill and repetition is necessary.
Some children require more than others.
Unless they receive that proficiency they will not have a foundation upon which to build to the next step. The current philosophy that education must be fun is a disservice to children who must eventually realize that in order to feel good about oneself one must actually put in real effort to earn that good feeling of worthiness and self-respect. Based on these concepts the high schools should be returned to the traditional six or seven period day. Children should not be socially promoted. Modern Behavioral Psychology has dominated the colleges of education for the past thirty years.