Making The Grade
It’s that time of year again. The time when hearts beat rapidly and thoughts turn into flights of fancy. You know what I’m talking about, right? Yep. You guessed it – end of year report cards. The final factor – pass or fail.
It is also time for my annual dilemma. What do I do about those "F" students? There is a complex system of what grades you have to earn in which classes and when in this lovely school system. Earning an "F" in my class will not fail you for the year IF that is the only failing grade you have. However, there are cases where an "F" in my class WILL retain you.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: It is damn near impossible to fail my class. As a matter of fact, you have to actively TRY to fail my class. You basically get points for just showing up. If you show up AND you’re breathing – it’s extra points!! All right. Maybe it’s not exactly THAT easy – but it’s easy enough. I try to lighten up the day a little. The students are under all kinds of pressure in their other classes, so I want my class to be a little "looser" – because I can. Because I don’t have give semester exams or FCAT standardized tests. BOTTOM LINE: Getting a "F" in my class means you cut class, spent most of your school time suspended, or came to class but sat like a bump on a log and did NOTHING.
BUT here’s the rub. If a student has passed all their benchmark tests and essentially passed everything they need to graduate to the next grade except my class…….I don’t want to hold them back. Do they deserve the "F" in my class? Hell, yes! If there was an "F-" they would deserve that. But will it really benefit them to stay an extra year in grade 7 or 8? That’s the real question. OR would they simply become a larger and larger discipline problem since they are no longer with their friends, are older than other students in their grade and therefor RIPE to be "leaders" of all the little lemmings.
BUT I want to take a stand for what’s right. YOU DID NOTHING – YOU FAIL. It’s a pretty simple principle. You either do it or you don’t. If you don’t – then you don’t pass. Not complicated at all. You knew the rules up front. AND if I let it be known that I won’t give a grade that will retain a student, then no one will ever do anything. (Except, of course, for those students who find it impossible to earn anything less than an "A")
And so my dilemma. I WANT to stand up and say "you EARNED an F and that’s what you got. Deal with the consequeces because YOU set them up." But what I will actually do is more like this. Check the records/grades for my "F" students. If adding MY "F" to the pile will not retain them – then I will hand out that "F". BUT if adding my "F" to the pile will become the straw that breaks the camel’s back and holds that student from promotion – they’re gonna get a "D". And I feel like a coward for backing down. However, I believe the bigger picture is served. At least I hope it is. I hope, I hope, I hope.
I wouldnt want to be in your shoes. I understand the issue both ways and wouldnt want to have to decide.
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No wonder your students love you, you are so thoughtful. I think you’re doing the right thing, my thoughts are if they deserve a failing grade in your class, I’d try to make it a point to have a chat with them about it. I can’t believe how many are let through that can’t even read though, blows me away.
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Came upon you through random. I understand both sides. BUT as a college student, I know the consequences that giving a student a higher grade has, psychologically, on those who did work hard. Many of my professors do not seem to give below a “C-” and sometimes you wonder why you work to get an “A” if everyone else is guaranteed to at least pass. Not a critique, just a different perspective
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having tooo old people who would cause trouble and be more inclined to trouble flunked for being do nothings does seem to be a problem if they actually did enough work in math and writing classes to go to high school. I don’t know exactly how to reach them and school systems are so big you can’t write a note to the next teachers and say, HEY this kid deserved an F and was a lazy butt in my clas
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Do you find many that are passing elsewhere but not in your class? It’s my guess that you don’t. I’m sure your classroom IS a haven for kids under stress, and I’m thinking it’s probably a lot more common that your class is the only one some kids are PASSING. It sounds to me like you’ve reached an equitable compromise, at least with yourself!
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“(Except, of course, for those students who find it impossible to earn anything less than an “A”)” Oh, Lor’! This is me. I am not even working for a degree and yet I work for an “A”! In all seriousness, I DO understand your dilemma. I was quite rigid with my grades because English is a make-or-break subject and the kids know this, {More}
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But I also told them that once I got over 10 grades in my book, I did drop their lowest grade which saved a lot of them! LOL
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I see your dilemma– and it sounds like a tough one. I suppose it would be best to go on a case-by-case basis and decide what seems best for the student. But that could be time-consuming, and really. . . who wants to do that?!
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chit mon…… your choo-s suck. i’m glad i don’t have to give out grades.
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i think the dee thing is the best way to go.
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I’m pretty sure I’d do the same thing as you. These kids have a hard enough life in mose cases.
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Being the fantastic teacher that you are, you will instinctively know what to do. I’m sure of it.
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You will know what’s best for each one of them
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I think you are right about considering the bigger picture although the kids should not slack off that much.. You are a good teacher…
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I am still grateful to the teacher who gave me a mercy “C” in plane geometry. Without that grade, I wouldn’t have been able to go on to nursing school and both of us knew I would NEVER learn plane geometry. 🙂 You will do the right thing to satisfy the rules and still be fair to your kids. You are like that, you know.
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you might give a paper to each kid saying you earned an F, but to get you out of here I gave you a D you didn’t deserve. You will not be this lucky later in life. I’m glad I’m not a teacher.
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You have the hardest job in the world. It’s a sin that teachers are not more respected and better paid.
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This is a dilemma, all right. I wouldn’t want to be the one who decides. I think you’re doing the best you can with a bad situation. Your heart is in the right place.
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I very much agree on the “bigger picture” idea. I don’t think there’s one perfect answer for this, but I do think you’ve picked the best solution. ryn: Thank you so much for that note!
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Bigger picture idea makes sense. I would so hate to give out grades. I work in the lower years (1-3) and we don´t have any grading system until they reach year 8 here. They are 14 by then and it comes as a quite a shock for many (mostly boys) to find out they actually have to do some real work.
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You’re very smart. It’s not just the grade, it’s the big and the little pictures. Summer school would be the other alternative here, but I’m not sure anything but core academics are offered in the summer. Good luck.
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RYN: Me, too. She’s the “Venus of Willendorf,” and she looks a lot more like me than the other Venus! 🙂 I’m embarrassed to admit that right now I’m reading “The Stand.” I don’t think it gets much junkier than that, but it seems to be about all I’m up to this week.
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The school system has set up that dilemma. (I had to look up dilemma for the spelling, it’s really two m’s?) One more example of the system making it wrong to do right, nobody wins. I really like how you step back and look at what’s best for the kids. Giving a D is the best compromise, you have all the best reasons.
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Thank you.
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Oh, this brought back memories of much agonising, both over giving grades myself and making decisions, as a year coordinator, as to whether students should be promoted or not. I think it is best to consider each student individually.
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