In high school, I was a terrible speller. Spelling seemed unimportant and I was able to pass classes without having to spell correctly. Then in my first year in college, one professor docked my grade for every misspelled word. I quickly learned how to spell.
 
I am reminded of this personal story because schools now dock teachers who want to enforce standards like accurate spelling on their students. Strict teachers with grammar and spelling rules actually are helping their students, but the Equity Police think such old-fashioned customs such as clear communication penalize low-achieving students. 
 
Some schools have gotten rid of deadlines and are allowing students multiple chances to make up exams. Students no longer even need the "dog ate my homework" excuse, because schools are excusing their tardiness in advance!
 
For example, in San Diego, the school district has told teachers how to grade their students: the teachers cannot consider timeliness or classroom behavior in their grades. The complaint is that traditional grading perpetuates inequality, so the zero-to-100 scale should be eliminated. Also, no extra-credit assignments allowed since extra homework allegedly favors privileged students.
 
All parents should want the schools to set a high bar and demand excellence from students. Coddling students sets them up for failure. In real life, both bosses and customers demand excellence on time. Family may accept the dog-ate-my-homework excuse, but the customer never forgives shoddy work.