GLASGOW, Ky. — The goal of modern education is "No Child Left Behind," but that certainly doesn't seem to be the case in some Kentucky school systems.

Next month, Henry County schools will vote to eliminate C as a passing grade for students. In other words, students would have to score no lower than 80 percent on homework or tests to pass.

The school system, along with Oldham County Schools in Kentucky, has already abolished Ds as passing grades, but thinks this move will motivate students to try harder rather than accept "average" results.

But what if they are average children? Is there something terribly wrong with that?

An even better argument could be made for students who are very proficient at a subject such as math, but might struggle with the required foreign language course to the tune of 78 percent.

According to these standards, that student would be a failure even though he may have the aptitude to be a very talented engineer — a failure because he or she could only answer three out of every four questions correctly.

Teachers would have no choice to fail these students, would they?

Of course they would.

It's common knowledge that sometimes a teacher will reward a student who gives 100 percent by bumping his or her grade a couple of points to passing.

In that scenario under this system, students would have grade point averages above the 3.0 level when teachers rewarded outstanding effort. That would surely look good on a college application compared to a child from a system where a C was still acceptable and wound up with a GPA of 2.9.

Expecting above average scores from all students is folly. Levying that kind of pressure abandons at-risk students who may become frustrated by a continuous diet of failing grades despite their best efforts.

In Oldham County, parents balked at the new system, claiming it unfairly forced some students off athletic teams and hurt GPAs.

Some might argue that athletes should be held to a higher standard because it's a privilege to play, not a right. However, a C — or 2.0 GPA — is fine and dandy when it comes to college participation.

After all, isn't it the job of the high school to prepare students for higher education? If a college will accept 61 percent as passing, why should a high school require 80 percent?

Lost in the quest to prepare future generations for careers is the fact that they are still children.

We don't think they're mature enough to vote, we don't allow them to drink and we won't even let them behind the wheel of a car by themselves until they are almost 17 years old.

So how can we honestly expect them to perform at nearly twice the level as those of us who have gone to school before them?

The truth is, sometimes you just can't grasp a subject no matter how much effort is put forth. You simply can't understand it.

It's not that unreasonable, for it's quite apparent a couple of Kentucky school systems don't understand a thing about children.

Todd Garvin writes for the Glasgow (Ky.) Daily Times.