As a teacher, I always have mixed feelings about making grades, because at the back of my mind, I know there are students who are going to fail even before the marking period officially ends.
I hate doing this. As much as possible, I want everyone to pass. I want the kids to enjoy their childhood: play, watch TV, be with their friends, or even chase butterflies in the fields. The thought of them being grounded by their parents because of a failing mark upsets me.
That’s why I implemented preventive measures: I told them our schedules beforehand so they can plan ahead; all tests and class works have extra credits; although we have homeworks and seat works almost daily, I gave them contests to make Math more fun and not horrible (I have no problems with my Computer Classes).
The students were responsive, and yet, I didn’t see the results I expected to see. One student was having a high-and-low scores trend, and based on this stat, I expected him to pass. But his Final exam was extremely low that I couldn’t pull his grade up.
I was thinking, did this kid even realize how important the Final exam was? I repeatedly told them to study, to the point of postponing the test for one day so they can review their lessons even longer.
Was this my fault? Why am I feeling guilty?
Then I realized, I religiously did my part as a teacher. I gave them good chances and several opportunities, yet, they chose to walk away from it. I should stop feeling guilty about it and pull the trigger. I have no control of what they do outside school.
A co-teacher warned me about parents that will complain. I told her, everything is documented so I have nothing to worry about. So I penned an “F” in the report cards of those flunking students. Otherwise, they will think they are doing the right thing and be forever lost in mediocrity. They need a reminder that they have to try harder.
Sometimes you have to pull this kind of trigger. Otherwise, there will always be senseless guilt, and you’ll end up trying to adjust to others when it’s supposed to be the other way around.
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i am sure this is some stuff for you to deal with bro. by the same token, you have got to prove your point. i mean, you are the teacher. you can only inspire that child to learn through your teachings. what they do with those teachings when they leave your classmate is up to them and their parents.
p.s.-i didn’t know you were a teacher. what a way to give back!
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I am of the belief that teachers can only go so far and can only be just so nice – going any further with the being “nice” defeats the purpose of instruction. Kids will take advantage of you if you try to give them more without their having to actually work and study for the grade. And sometimes, even a failing grade or a very low one, won’t inspire some kids to use the information given to them in their instructions.
Well, there’s only so much any one person can do. Or any other person for that matter. When it comes down to it, people have to make decisions for themselves. Some will make the right decisions and some won’t. Some people have to learn the hard way. That’s a fact of life.
we have similar dilemma saedel.
on my part though, it’s not directly grades that i give but rather meritocracy rating. despite giving the best i can do to motivate people, some really falters and in the end the message has to be delivered. and it won’t be welcomed by all.
as the cliche goes, “you can’t please everyone”.
Teachers should really do everything they can to help their students pass, but if the students are not responsive, then at the end of the day teachers should put the grade they deserve. This act will also inform the parents of their kid’s standing. It will help parents deal with their child’s problems in school.
Wow, thanks for the comments everyone! I’m glad we all seem to agree here.
If you don’t pull the trigger now, I will get them here on the college level. It has been exasperating this semester dealing with all that you have listed here. I tend to call it the fall out from being ‘the trophy generation’ and having ‘helicopter’ parents. I just recently had a student complain to the Chair about me dropping them a grade at the end of the semester because they missed five classes from a 15 class course. Seems to me the grade drop takes into account the ‘participation in class’ percentage. Like you, I do not set my students up to fail. They know exactly what is expected of them. They just don’t care. I’ll get off my soap box now
Hi Danielle! Very well said! I agree with you that some students don’t care.
In a K-8 level, I had students before that didn’t care but it’s because of lack of parental supervision at home. They did whatever they wanted: TV, IM’s, games, while their homework remained untouched.
Hopefully, these kinds of students reach you at the college level and change their attitude for their own good.
I know your feelings too as my Mom is a teacher also.I guess the attitude of students nowadays need to change or they will forever be in mediocre