Free Credits
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Everyone probably knows at least one person whose high school experience was a complete waste of time. Some of you know lots of people like this; some of you are that person.
This wasted time might be the person's fault, but sometimes it's the school. I know there are a lot of high schools out there with burnt-out teachers who use their classrooms as a holding cell, fill their daily hour with you doing something (videos, free reading time, etc.), and assign everyone a grade at the end based on how much they like you.
Of course, I'd like to think that for every person like that, there's another person who had a valuable high school experience. It's interesting, too, how that person in the last paragraph and the person in this paragraph can't understand each other's experience whatsoever.
I had a valuable experience at my high school. That's why I became a teacher. I was serious about school -- except when I wasn't. And when I wasn't, I anticipated the poor grade that I received. For the most part, I think the school where I work also takes education seriously.
Except when it doesn't.
The following point I have is arguable. I'm not even sure where I sit on the subject. I have two students in two different classes (with two different situations) whom I'm supposed to "just pass". I've been told (and I won't say by whom) to give them the minimum passing grade if they don't earn one themselves.
Part of me thinks, well why are they in my class at all? Why not just give them the credit and send them on their merry way?
Another part of me thinks, they don't know they're going to receive a pass no matter what. Why not give them the education they might actually (one day) use? They might even pass the course all on their own.
I know neither of them will ever go on to a post-secondary institution. They'd be very lucky if they even get jobs and live average lives. While it may not be "post-secondary", both students will likely spend a good portion of their adulthood in some institution.
Basically, while they have completely separate situations (read: the "institutions" I expect they'll spend some time in are of two different kinds), it all boils down to one same reason: the school wants them out. They're both extreme cases of students the staff would rather not handle.
Doling out "free credits" like this has me thinking about other situations. What about that nice, good-natured kid who tries really hard but just doesn't understand the math and earns a high F? How would s/he feel if s/he knew about this?
What about my students who are gang members? What if they threaten my demise if they fail this course (again... for the 3rd time)? Should I "just pass" them so I can feel safe?
The funny thing is, none of my students is going to pursue a math-related career. They can't take calculus after this course. They'll never use the math they're learning in any future math course they can take. Many of them will never use this math in any real life situation (except for my "Everyday Life" students. That course is actually pretty useful). Knowing all this, why not "just pass" everyone?
The question here is, in the long run, does it really matter that these two students unfairly received a math credit? What do you think about it? I don't even know how I feel.
And in the end, it doesn't matter what I think. They'll both "pass", and leave our school just like everyone wants.
Everyone probably knows at least one person whose high school experience was a complete waste of time. Some of you know lots of people like this; some of you are that person.
This wasted time might be the person's fault, but sometimes it's the school. I know there are a lot of high schools out there with burnt-out teachers who use their classrooms as a holding cell, fill their daily hour with you doing something (videos, free reading time, etc.), and assign everyone a grade at the end based on how much they like you.
Of course, I'd like to think that for every person like that, there's another person who had a valuable high school experience. It's interesting, too, how that person in the last paragraph and the person in this paragraph can't understand each other's experience whatsoever.
I had a valuable experience at my high school. That's why I became a teacher. I was serious about school -- except when I wasn't. And when I wasn't, I anticipated the poor grade that I received. For the most part, I think the school where I work also takes education seriously.
Except when it doesn't.
The following point I have is arguable. I'm not even sure where I sit on the subject. I have two students in two different classes (with two different situations) whom I'm supposed to "just pass". I've been told (and I won't say by whom) to give them the minimum passing grade if they don't earn one themselves.
Part of me thinks, well why are they in my class at all? Why not just give them the credit and send them on their merry way?
Another part of me thinks, they don't know they're going to receive a pass no matter what. Why not give them the education they might actually (one day) use? They might even pass the course all on their own.
I know neither of them will ever go on to a post-secondary institution. They'd be very lucky if they even get jobs and live average lives. While it may not be "post-secondary", both students will likely spend a good portion of their adulthood in some institution.
Basically, while they have completely separate situations (read: the "institutions" I expect they'll spend some time in are of two different kinds), it all boils down to one same reason: the school wants them out. They're both extreme cases of students the staff would rather not handle.
Doling out "free credits" like this has me thinking about other situations. What about that nice, good-natured kid who tries really hard but just doesn't understand the math and earns a high F? How would s/he feel if s/he knew about this?
What about my students who are gang members? What if they threaten my demise if they fail this course (again... for the 3rd time)? Should I "just pass" them so I can feel safe?
The funny thing is, none of my students is going to pursue a math-related career. They can't take calculus after this course. They'll never use the math they're learning in any future math course they can take. Many of them will never use this math in any real life situation (except for my "Everyday Life" students. That course is actually pretty useful). Knowing all this, why not "just pass" everyone?
The question here is, in the long run, does it really matter that these two students unfairly received a math credit? What do you think about it? I don't even know how I feel.
And in the end, it doesn't matter what I think. They'll both "pass", and leave our school just like everyone wants.
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