'F-list' causes controversy

MARSHFIELD -- MYFOXWAUSAU - A Marshfield principal violates a federal educational standard by posting an 'F-list' for all students to see.

The Middle School Principal says the list was intended to put some urgency into his students. But, parents feel it's public humiliation and a violation of privacy.

This controversial list was posted Thursday outside of Principal Dave Schoepke's office. It lists every student in the Marshfield Middle School with a failing grade. Anyone on this list can't go to the school dance.

James Krier is a concerned parent with a daughter on the list. He says, "Their name, class and the F by it. It showed the F grade. I was pretty distraught when I go there I took a picture of it."

Krier's daughter is one of a hundred names on the 'F-list' posted for the entire school to see. 0416 Krier "She couldn't believe it that she was on that list she was upset."

Principal Dave Schoepke says his intent wasn't to embarrass students.

Schoepke says, "What the kids have known for a long time is that if they have their names on a failing list, they may not have the opportunity to go to a dance or field trip or something like that, their privilege is gone."

It's the first time he's posted the 'F-list' in public. He says posting the list of kids with failing grades was his way of motivating them to get their assignments in so they can go to the school dance and it seems to have worked.

Schoepke says, "I also told the kids that once they get their stuff in and get them off the list then you'll be eligible to go and I think we're about half way through our list and we probably half those kids getting assignments turned in, projects turned in so this failing grade will go away."

Still, parents feel publishing failing grades is a violation of their child's privacy and not a form of motivation.

Krier says, "You should notify the parents. It's not up to him. How is it going to help? It's going to run them down into the ground even further."

The superintendent says Principal Schoepke did violate student privacy rules. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act known as FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records.

He says Principal Schoepke had good intentions, but it was a bad method. He says they will follow-up on this and guarantees it won't happen again.