today I had a student come to me for advice on how to improve her grade. She does her work and is a good girl, but she is not what one might call an A student. In fact, she just passes the simple vocabulary quizzes I give her. Anyway, she has a 75 average in my class. She asked what she could do to improve her grade and I said she should study harder for the vocabulary quizzes and we could sit and look at what she needed to do to improve her writing. This wasn't enough. She wanted immediate change. She wanted an A. She wanted me to improve her grade because she had done all the work.
I was stunned. An A for doing work? What about outstanding work or even above average work? When I told my student that A was a grade reserved for the best work, she cried and left the room. Her friend, however, felt comfortable telling me that some kids don't do the work.
Hmmmm. I have always known some kids do and some kids don't. Still, I am new in this place and I wonder if it's common practice to give As to students who do the work regardless of the quality of the work. I went where I always go, to see Kevin Mills.
Kevin advised me to do what I do. Perhaps I could help a grade along by giving participation grades. I laughed. I said, "that's assuming I have kids who participate."
Kevin's big fear is that if he stays much longer in Nevada he'll ruin any bit of good teacher he has inside of him. I guess that is the point. These poor kids have been taught by teachers who think it's okay to pass them along. I now know why Precious had an A in English -- no one cared.
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