Re: "Dazed, confused about DISD grade policy," by Jacquielynn Floyd, Sunday Metro column.

I am reeling from the latest guidelines for the DISD grade policy. It was apparent to many educators and parents within the last eight years that there were serious issues in the "any child left behind" policy and that it was in serious need of revamping, but this is yet another example of the American education system swinging the pendulum from one extreme to another.

Where's the happy medium, the accountability, the reality? What service are we doing for the children of Dallas? What message are we sending? What are the ramifications going to be as the consequences of these guidelines reverberate through high school and college?

This grading policy is not indicative of real life. I hold a master's degree in education and have taught for over five years in colleges across several states, and, again, this is not preparing children for real life – not only in the school arena, but in the real world where your boss and life overall isn't going to offer "do-overs."

I agree with Ms. Floyd. How is dumbing down the curriculum and taking away all power from teachers going to serve our society now and in the future? I'm worried – really, really worried.

Dawn M. Gomez, Waxahachie