So, the kids are showing up with their report cards these days.
Harumph.
I don't always like this part. One child gets A's and B's with a teacher, gets an A+ with another teacher, and F's with another teacher.
It just seems like the teachers are talking about two different kids, you know?
A previous child has had difficulty with the same teacher giving out the F's, in the past.
And I know, from having family and friends as teachers, that teachers are people too. All kinds of people.
It's just hard to know what to do. We will keep on the kid to raise his marks with the one teacher.
And I know it's not this easy, but it's hard to know what's the kids fault, and what's the teachers.
Marking is tough; so is fulfilling varying teacher expectations.
ReplyDeleteMarking is also subjective. An example from my limited experience with marking: one's mood has an effect on marking. After marking 35 essay questions from a test, all giving the same WRONG answer, a teacher may just get really annoyed and fed up. It's not right, but it's human.
All a student can do is their best. The teacher's mark may or may not reflect that.
As a teacher, I have to comment that I agree with Marc. Marking is VERY subjective!! So are adaptations that teachers are willing to give the students. As I teacher, I always try to look inside myself and say, "what am I trying to learn about this kid". Also, "what am I wanting the kid to show me that he or she has learned?" When teachers do not allow for extra time or adaptations in order to finish assignments, then who are they ACTUALLY shortchanging? Are they ACTUALLY allowing the kid to fully show what he or she knows about the subject?
ReplyDeleteDon't forget: as a parent, you MUST be an advocate for your child. If you have these questions, then why aren't you asking them of the person in question? Why are you allowing student after student after student to be subjected to this inconsistent "evaluation of their person as a student?" When PARENTS fight for students (theirs or otherwise), so much more can be gained. If TEACHERS fight for these inequalities, then they are accused by their peers of being "soft" or "too lenient". Parents seem to get heard ~ AND RESULTS ~ more often gained, when they speak to teachers / principals / superintendents / etc
Remember, inequalities MUST be fought against. Whether these inequalities happen in the classroom, job, street, church, etc
The student's experiences in school, often shape who they become in the future. Do they believe they can? Do they think they will? Do they believe that they are worth the effort to teach? Why are they so different? They may begin to question why they can't do it exactly like their peers? They may also ask themselves, "what's the matter with me? Why am I different and why do I need something more? My questions are: "Why DOES everyone have to do it the same? Why is it ok for Joe Schmo to wear glasses (an adaptation), but extra time will NOT be given to finish an exam or assignment (an...ADAPTATION)??!!??!! If teachers embrace different learning styles, then the classroom would be a far better and far "fairer" place. If kids see their parents NOT reacting to unfairness, what is that showing them? We are all teachers to our youth. Some of us just get paid with money to be with them from 9-3:30, Monday through Friday. The rest of you get paid in non-money ways to be with them the rest of the time.
Like I ask MY students: "What part of this do YOU own?" Once you have answered that, my next question to you would be, "So, what are you going to do about it?"
Some teachers *cough*at st. Mary's*cough* are so incredibly juvenile. They act like little kids. (Well, not so much 'they' as 'she') sooooo subjective.
ReplyDeleteLast semester, when she handed out report cards, my friend had a fifty percent final grade in her class. You wouldn't believe what the teacher said to her, "You earned that mark. It wasn't a mercy pass, because I don't like you." And my friend even handed in all her stuff. She marks so subjectively; if she doesn't seem to like you or your attitude or the way you do things or your sense of humour, you get lower marks.
Eyah...and when I started 'smirking' in class because she was yelling to all of us "THIS IS MY ANGRY FACE" I got in trouble. Who wouldn't laugh when someone with a big purple face stood in front of about 30 other people pointing to their face with both hands saying quite retarded sounding things, after a very unconsequential event.
I'm so glad I'm almost done with teachers.
...until you go off to college or university. Teachers there aren't necessarily less juvenile or irritating, a lesson well-learned after 7.5 years in three different post-secondary institutions.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a bad experience at BBC, but Bible College is no gaurantee either.
Not to scare you or depress you or anything.
I'm just thinking fondly of my Religious Studies professor at the UofR who announced to my then-girlfriend (now wife) that I was his (I quote) "worst student ever", because I dared question him (and it wasn't even publicly). I laughed at it then and I laugh at it now.
My wife's marks for this same professor (different class) went down successively as the semester progressed, when it became clear that she was willing to take his dogmatic stance on (ironically) pluralism/tolerance to task (because he wasn't all the pluralistic, making a point to undermine Christianity in every possible, often false and irrational way).
Anyway, those were the days. Thanks for sparking that stroll down memory lane.
I hear you all loud and clear, (well, Johanna, um, yeah whatever!!)
ReplyDeleteIn terms of adaptation, that's a word I use at church all the time. Certainly not all people will enjoy the worship of God in the same ways. Some love/hate music, some love/hate participation, some love/hate... you name it. So we adapt, so that they will be able to experience and worship God in a language they know.
But re. the school system. The teachers are suppose to be experts at teaching, we are the experts on our children. When those two conflict, crap happens.
As parents, in the past (and other cities) we have regularly been "Presumed ignorant" of the teaching skills and current trends in teaching: Until they learn we've attended college.
And, dealing with an imoveable teacher is, well, difficult. Long term.
Anyway, gotta get. The interview is in a few minutes.