Reasons to be an easy grader

[hipteacher]

I have come to the realization that all the stress in my teaching day comes from parents, students and others who are upset about grades. Never mind that every single poor grade is due to the fact that the students do not turn in work! :D

So I am considering adopting the philosophy of a fellow teacher, which is to never give a grade of less than a C (or D). No F's whatsoever. I know this lowers the standard but isn't that what we do each year anyway, just lower the expectations to meet where the students are at?:eek:

This would make my life easier. The colleague who has this plan in action claims that it motivates the kids to learn more and be more engaged. He does not have to worry about nasty parent phone calls or getting work for kids who were absent... they just all pass.

Any thoughts on this? :rolleyes:

My main question is how does one get around the online gradebook? If a student does not turn in work, it obviously calculates to an F!

[Unregistered]

This is considered, BAD TEACHING. What you are doing is facilitating an ongoing problem within our society which states that the real world will be lenient on those that do less than expected. The way to motivate a child is not to allow them to float thru school. What happens when they graduate and can't take the SAT's or can't do some of the basic things? Ok, you avoid parent contact for now but don't you think it will be a little obvious when Billy can't pass the next level classes or when they evaluate him and find out that he did absolutely nothing yet somehow passed your class?

[msakowski]

This plan of action seems to be in place in some of our upper elementary classrooms with respect to math. I get adult students at the college level that can not add two fractions like 1/3 + 2/5 nor can they give me the word name of a decimal like 0.0023 . Yet they graduated from high school.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

This is considered, BAD TEACHING. What you are doing is facilitating an ongoing problem within our society which states that the real world will be lenient on those that do less than expected. The way to motivate a child is not to allow them to float thru school. What happens when they graduate and can't take the SAT's or can't do some of the basic things? Ok, you avoid parent contact for now but don't you think it will be a little obvious when Billy can't pass the next level classes or when they evaluate him and find out that he did absolutely nothing yet somehow passed your class?

Blame society, not the teacher.

In fact, this is basically what every annually contracted teacher has to do in order to assure they are rehired the next school year.

When bankers do what it takes to keep their job, it's ok, but if a teacher does it, they are a bad teacher???? :confused:

[Unregistered]

I, too, am facing pressure from my administration, parents and students to be lenient with grades. I no longer take off points for late work although I strongly enforce a 6 week deadline. I give students credit for just attempting work and participating in class. I now have to allow unlimited retakes of assessments to get students to raise their grades.

Frankly, this method is the same as any other grading system...the teacher cares more about grades than students do, the teacher puts in more work than the students and I have found that the students learn the same amount. The pressure to just pass students makes me wonder why we have grades at all. My administration owes this movement to the book "Failure is Not an Option". I have not read it yet but it seems to be changing the face of education - not in a positive way.

Still, with all of these changes, I have students who fail because they do not attend class OR, the big issue, students do not make up work after an absence. Should I just excuse students from every assignment they miss due to an absence?

[HistoryReader]

This is considered, BAD TEACHING. What you are doing is facilitating an ongoing problem within our society which states that the real world will be lenient on those that do less than expected. The way to motivate a child is not to allow them to float thru school. What happens when they graduate and can't take the SAT's or can't do some of the basic things? Ok, you avoid parent contact for now but don't you think it will be a little obvious when Billy can't pass the next level classes or when they evaluate him and find out that he did absolutely nothing yet somehow passed your class?

Teachers get yelled at when children fail.

Teachers get yelled at when children pass.

Teachers are hated for being strict.

Teachers are hated for being lenient.

When does this end?

[Unregistered]

I am a sustitute teacher thinking of returning to school to get my teaching degee. I have subbed for 2 years now and have 4 kids in the public school system from 4th - 9th grade. It is my understanding that the state has adopted a "no fail" " no student left behind" policy. It takes many hours of the teachers personal time to process the paperwork to get a problem student removed from their class or especially to fail a student.
It has been my experience that the work has been made so simple for the students anyway, basically fill in the blanks from the words right in front of them, but most still whine and waste the entire class time by being to lazy to put forth the effort to fill in the blank or open a book to find the already bold, highlighted word that they need. I had a nephew, 10th grade, who did not do on esingle classroom or homework assignment, I got calls daily from teachers. There is not much the teachers can do, there were no consequences at all. He took the 6 weeks tests and guess what- he passed without even taking a pencil or paper to class-ever!!
So if you consider this bad teaching, I highly recommend, try subbing onece or twice, visit your child classroom unannouced and aee what the teachers have to deal with on a daily basis.
The grading standards and especailly the diciplinary standards are way out of control, but you can be sure those TAKS tests will be passed, it is all about the almight dollar, even when it comes to your childs education. Are you aware that Texas is one of the lowest rated school systems, most of our kids can't read, write in cursive or do their multiplication tables when they graduate. Scary huh???? There is way too little parent involvment and way too low teacher incintives and pay for what they have to deal with daily.

[Unregistered]

I used to struggle every semester with getting students to pass. I had high expectations and told myself that what i was doing was the right thing for these students. I was stressed every day and worried about the end of the semeester "chat" with an administrator about how I had the lowest grades in the department.

Then, I decided to make a change. I began giving students credit for anything and everything, using the "bulk fill" function of my grading program. I excused work from absences. Even though I required students to participate and think, I gave them credit even they did not do well on assignments. The only thing I really "graded" were tests and quizzes. I went home each day refreshed, parent conferences were a breeze and I no longer had the dreaded chat with my administration. The kids liked my class and no longer said it was the most difficult. Kids started doing better on assignments becuase there was no grading pressure.

I still use this system today and it has kept me in teaching. Lenient grading may not be the best thing for students in the long run, but it keeps me employed, keeps kids interested in my subject matter and keeps the admin happy (let's face it, that is the goal, to not be hasseled).

Until a societal shift occurs, this is how I will continue to do things. I refuse to be the one teacher that holds kids to high expectations when all they need to do is show up to pass other classes.

[St. Louis Blues]

:( If teachers do not set high standards for their students, then who will? What sort of favor are you doing them, to prepare them for future employment and/or college? Wow, I am glad that my teachers set high expectations for me and for my own children. I would not have settled for less. I am troubled by the responses in this thread by teachers who lower their standards to make it easier on themselves. I disagree with previous posters.....I set very high standards for my students and receive nothing but high evaluations from my superiors, have absolutely no problem with administrators and/or parents. Now, this is coming from a rural area in the Mid-west where many of my students' parents have dropped out of high school. If their students (we are talking non-IEP) cannot meet my high standards, then they don't do well in my class. Guess what? I have very few F's and much respect from my students. Idealistic you say? No, just the truth.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

:( If teachers do not set high standards for their students, then who will? What sort of favor are you doing them, to prepare them for future employment and/or college? Wow, I am glad that my teachers set high expectations for me and for my own children. I would not have settled for less. I am troubled by the responses in this thread by teachers who lower their standards to make it easier on themselves. I disagree with previous posters.....I set very high standards for my students and receive nothing but high evaluations from my superiors, have absolutely no problem with administrators and/or parents. Now, this is coming from a rural area in the Mid-west where many of my students' parents have dropped out of high school. If their students (we are talking non-IEP) cannot meet my high standards, then they don't do well in my class. Guess what? I have very few F's and much respect from my students. Idealistic you say? No, just the truth.

I hear you and agree with you, in theory, 100%. But like many things in life, theory on paper falls short when the rubber meets the road. This is a case of that.

In a political world of education, teachers, especially 1st year teachers, HAVE to bend when it comes to expectations or else they don't get rehired or they burn out. If you are an unemployed teacher, or a burned out teacher, you do noone any good.

Fail a schoolboard member's child, a principal's child, even a guidance counselor's child, and see how much more headaches YOU have because of it. If you are a first year teacher, watch how you AREN'T rehired the next year. Is it right? "No, just the truth"

[St. Louis Blues]

I suppose it all depends the set of circumstances, Choc. I have had, in my years of teaching, several principals' kids as students. No problem in lowering my standards for them to pass, because higher standards were already set for them at home. The value of education and striving for good grades has been instilled in them, no doubt because mom and/or dad are educators themselves. I will admit, that kids from homes where education is not a priority, rarely rise up to my standards and don't do well at all. But, being a teacher yourself and no doubt experiencing these kinds of moments, when they do see that they can do well with a little work and studying, the self-satisfaction that I see in them is priceless and why I went into this career in the first place.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

I suppose it all depends the set of circumstances, Choc. I have had, in my years of teaching, several principals' kids as students. No problem in lowering my standards for them to pass, because higher standards were already set for them at home. The value of education and striving for good grades has been instilled in them, no doubt because mom and/or dad are educators themselves. I will admit, that kids from homes where education is not a priority, rarely rise up to my standards and don't do well at all. But, being a teacher yourself and no doubt experiencing these kinds of moments, when they do see that they can do well with a little work and studying, the self-satisfaction that I see in them is priceless and why I went into this career in the first place.

well, good point on the instilled importance. I honestly used to think that ALL teacher/admin kids had this... that was until I started actually teaching. Then I realized, there are a lot of kids who EXPECT to be passed simply because of their last name.

[Unregistered]

Well, I guess I won't waste my breath the next time someone bashes teachers for being lazy, not doing their job, not giving a s**t, not.... The lenient graders here aren't teaching, they are wasting space, time and the taxpayer's dollars. Stop making excuses and start doing your job. My wife gets a lot of the kids you let slide and once they hit her class she is doing your job and trying to teach them things they should have learned years ago, but thanks to you and people like you, they never did.

[Unregistered]

I don't teach high school, but have a daughter in middle school. At Back to School Night, her science teacher said he was trying something different this year that he saw work in England. If a child was missing ANY assignment, they had to report for detention. I don't know how this has worked for him.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Well, I guess I won't waste my breath the next time someone bashes teachers for being lazy, not doing their job, not giving a s**t, not.... The lenient graders here aren't teaching, they are wasting space, time and the taxpayer's dollars. Stop making excuses and start doing your job. My wife gets a lot of the kids you let slide and once they hit her class she is doing your job and trying to teach them things they should have learned years ago, but thanks to you and people like you, they never did.

you are the exact parent that loves to talk big, right up until your kid doesn't pull the grade, then you are the parent complaining that the course is too hard. The ironic thing is, the same reason you use to justify grading would be the same reason you justify why the class is too hard for your kid when they fail..... "my wife is a teacher and blah, blah, blah..."

[Unregistered]

That is bull_____, Chocolate! If any teacher of my child were not insisting that they turn in work correctly done, I would pull them out of that class immediately. It is teachers like you who are the thorn in the proverbial educational side.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

That is bull_____, Chocolate! If any teacher of my child were not insisting that they turn in work correctly done, I would pull them out of that class immediately. It is teachers like you who are the thorn in the proverbial educational side.


uh huh, right, sure you would :rolleyes:

Keep talking big because THAT is what it takes to be a good parent, no wait, it's what it takes to be perceived as one, anyways...

[Unregistered]

here's the scenario, Mr. Chocolate:
Your daughter comes home with a paper marked "A". It is a writing assignment. As you peruse it (and I DO assume that you check over your daughter's papers that she brings home, being a good parent that YOU are), you see that she has made capitalization errors and other writing errors. You question her about them. She says "Oh, Mrs. Lamebrain doesn't make us use capitalization or punctuation correctly in our writing." (which is, in case you don't recognize it, what you are doing, regardless of the age group or grade taught. I am assuming your child is in elementary.) Now, being the GOOD teacher that you brag you are you have a choice: a) approach the teacher professionally and inquire as to why she does not insist on these most basic requirements for writing OR b) say to her, "Oh, honey, I do understand. Daddy doesn't make his students do that either." Hypothetically, of course-----now, isn't that just ducky? You are a terrible teacher, Choc, and you can brag and boast all you want. You stink. A good teacher would choose a, of course. And furthermore, if this is the route you would take, you are a hypocrite.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

here's the scenario, Mr. Chocolate:
Your daughter comes home with a paper marked "A". It is a writing assignment. As you peruse it (and I DO assume that you check over your daughter's papers that she brings home, being a good parent that YOU are), you see that she has made capitalization errors and other writing errors. You question her about them. She says "Oh, Mrs. Lamebrain doesn't make us use capitalization or punctuation correctly in our writing." (which is, in case you don't recognize it, what you are doing, regardless of the age group or grade taught. I am assuming your child is in elementary.) Now, being the GOOD teacher that you brag you are you have a choice: a) approach the teacher professionally and inquire as to why she does not insist on these most basic requirements for writing OR b) say to her, "Oh, honey, I do understand. Daddy doesn't make his students do that either." Hypothetically, of course-----now, isn't that just ducky? You are a terrible teacher, Choc, and you can brag and boast all you want. You stink. A good teacher would choose a, of course. And furthermore, if this is the route you would take, you are a hypocrite.


RRRAARRR!!!11 It seems I have another one hooked...

Now, with correct punctuation and grammar, I will explain it to you again since you missed it earlier Mr Father of the year....

My job, your wife's job, is dependent upon how well your kids test on NCLB state testing, which I hate to tell you, does not prioritize punctuation. A teacher has 1 hour a day, for about 100 days to prepare a student for the test. Since NCLB, in it's infinite wisdom (that's sarcasm, btw) has decided that bad punctuation isn't a reflection of a student's writing abilities, then a teacher has to take the limited time they have (100 hours roughly) and get them ready for the parts that ARE graded.

If a teacher has a class full of good writers and poor capitalizers, the school gets an "A" and the teachers get to keep their jobs

If a teacher has a class full of good capitalizers but poor writers, the school gets an "F" and the teachers are deemed bad, and they lose their jobs.

Simple as that. Call me a bad teacher all you want, but this is simply a case of self-preservation. I think it's crap that I am not allowed to count off a geography test, when a kid doesn't use proper rules of grammar, but until people see all the little unintended consequences of NCLB legislation, (and this is a perfect example), problems like this will continue to get worse.

(Cursive writing is becoming a relic of the past)


So in a nutshell...
IT IS AGAINST FEDERAL LAW FOR ME TO COUNT OFF FOR GRAMMAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN GEOGRAPHY STATE STANDARDS. If I do count off, and a parent confronts the teacher and the school and asks which standard I have that allows me to do that, I HAVE to change the grade. An English teacher (or elementary teacher since they teach English) has a little more leeway, but I'm going to prioritize the stuff on how it affects the school grades, and therefore, my job

[Unregistered]

I agree, Chocolate. There is no reason for me to waste class time by worrying about things like grammar. If a kid knows the concept I asked him or her to write about then full credit is awarded. This is the way the standardized tests are set up so that is the way I will teach.

I was evaluated this year and it is my 10th year teaching. I was actually asked why had such a high failure rate, it was 4%!!

We are implementing a new policy called "Failure is Not an Option", based on a book of the same name. It is this book that is lowering standards, convincing school boards and state boards that failure is bad for a child's self esteem. Our policy expects high school teachers to go find students during our lunch time to bring them in and get work from them. Now THAT is what is wrong with the system, students MUST be allowed to fail.

[bioteach200]

When I first started teaching I had a "no late work policy" - that's because that's what I had in high school --- I was shocked when the principal told me that I couldn't do this... but I went along with it...in my syllabus it states that late work is deducted 25% for each day late... that gives them 4 days...(and my syllabus was approved by the principal) if they DO end up turning in a stack the day before the end of the quarter (:rolleyes:) I give them 1 or 2 points for thier trouble. I do not give re-tests EVER. Students grades are weighted - 30% for assignments, 40% for tests, 15% labs and 15% for in class participation. I have a a few parents complain - but when thier child has 20 zero's in thier grade report I ask them "How much is a zero worth? How can I grade a zero?"

Once I had a student turn in a bunch of papers last minute - I posted grades the next day and they were still failing. The student comes up to me and asks "why" because "he turned everything in". He asked for "extra credit"--- I told him to write a 5 page research paper on one of the global environmental issues we discussed during the quarter. Then the student said "That's not fair! That's too much work!" ...I asked why he thought that and the student says (in quite an exasperated tone) "Well if I had turned this in on time I would have gotten full credit right?" I nodded and said yes- then he said "Well if I would have done THAT I wouldn't NEED the extra credit!"

:D I just smiled as the student walked away....

Needles to say - I'll be seeing that student AGAIN next year...


I don't back down or "grade leinent" on my students... do I have to spend some time arguing with parents...yes...but that's part of the job (unfortunately)...

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

in my syllabus it states that late work is deducted 25% for each day late... that gives them 4 days...



you do realize, your math is off :p

full credit is 100%, day one = 25% off and that equals 75%.

Day two is another 25% off but not of 100, but rather 75. and that's what, only 15 more points roughly, so a 60% and so on and so on... ;)

Couldn't you just say 25 points off each day rather than 25%. ;)

[Unregistered]

you are the exact parent that loves to talk big, right up until your kid doesn't pull the grade, then you are the parent complaining that the course is too hard. The ironic thing is, the same reason you use to justify grading would be the same reason you justify why the class is too hard for your kid when they fail..... "my wife is a teacher and blah, blah, blah..."

Bulls**t. You don't know me or a thing about me. I have four kids in school, one was #2 in his class, the others will do OK. My kids get the grades they earn. I have never contacted a teacher requesting an adjustment in a grade or complained to a teacher regarding a grading policy. Before assuming things about someone remember what happens to people who assume. Hint, hint - they make an a** of you and me.

I do expect people to do their jobs and when someone is skating and not doing there job, they should get there called on it and either change their behavior or get assistance in finding a new job. And the people calling themselves lenient graders here definitely need to find a new job as they aren't doing the kids stuck in their classes or their fellow teachers who will get these kids any favors.

[bioteach200]

you do realize, your math is off :p

full credit is 100%, day one = 25% off and that equals 75%.

Day two is another 25% off but not of 100, but rather 75. and that's what, only 15 more points roughly, so a 60% and so on and so on... ;)

Couldn't you just say 25 points off each day rather than 25%. ;)

Well- I collect assignments at the start of the block - if they turn it in that same block but AFTER I have collected the assignments already- then it is 25% off...I see now why that is confusing...:p

Usually I don't have to worry about it TOO much though - they will turn it in...or not--- zeroes are easier to grade!

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Bulls**t. You don't know me or a thing about me. I have four kids in school, one was #2 in his class, the others will do OK. My kids get the grades they earn. I have never contacted a teacher requesting an adjustment in a grade or complained to a teacher regarding a grading policy. Before assuming things about someone remember what happens to people who assume. Hint, hint - they make an a** of you and me.

I do expect people to do their jobs and when someone is skating and not doing there job, they should get there called on it and either change their behavior or get assistance in finding a new job. And the people calling themselves lenient graders here definitely need to find a new job as they aren't doing the kids stuck in their classes or their fellow teachers who will get these kids any favors.

advice from someone who's never been in a classroom. Wow, that NEVER happens.

I don't tell you when to flip the burgers at Burger King, do I? :rolleyes:

[Unregistered]

Choco, "flipping burgers" as your example of folks who don't agree with you is getting old. Think of something new. Let's see, let me help you out. Grave digging? Cashier at WallyWorld? "Sandwich engineer" at Subway? How about "teacher from Florida who is close-minded and quite ignorant, actually posing as someone who knows what they are talking about?"?

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

wow, it must truly be frustrating to realize that I actually am a teacher, huh? Doing all the stuff that you think is wrong.

Education - the field that everyone who's never been in a classroom thinks they are an expert.

Simply sitting through middleschool while you were 13 y.o. doesn't make you an expert on the subject. So let me file away all your advice in the same place I file away all the dailywork that my students do.... FILE 13 :rolleyes:

[Unregistered]

sit and close your eyes and IMAGINE the age, socio-economic status, etc. of the people who respond to your posts? I happen to be a VETERAN teacher who has loved his job for DECADES (I am soon to retire).

Guess what, ChocoMan, I am older and wiser than you, life experiences and classroom experiences. You have a lot to learn, my friend, although I do agree with some of your posts. Good Luck.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

sit and close your eyes and IMAGINE the age, socio-economic status, etc. of the people who respond to your posts? I happen to be a VETERAN teacher who has loved his job for DECADES (I am soon to retire).

Guess what, ChocoMan, I am older and wiser than you, life experiences and classroom experiences. You have a lot to learn, my friend, although I do agree with some of your posts. Good Luck.



just another unregistered user who hasn't proven they can teach their way out of a paper bag to me.

Older does not equal wiser. It simply means you think your age is enough for others to respect.:rolleyes:

Don't worry, I'll continue to teach well after you are in your grave still holding onto all your laurals.

[mgle_teacher]

-pops in-
I'm not a veteran teacher by any means, but neither am I a newbie.
However, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned district grading scales. At my district, we are required to follow a certain grading scale in re: grading

20 % - Final
40 % - Assessments
40 % - Classwork/Homework

However, besides that we have to remember nowadays grades should be standards driven. Hence, traditional grading scales don't really work for our student populations anymore.

It's a systematic problem. I don't think being an easy grader benefits anyone in this day and age.

~mgle_teacher

[Unregistered]

just another unregistered user who hasn't proven they can teach their way out of a paper bag to me.

Older does not equal wiser. It simply means you think your age is enough for others to respect.:rolleyes:

Don't worry, I'll continue to teach well after you are in your grave still holding onto all your laurals.

You seem to be a bit befuddled there, Chocolate.
a) Unregistered by choice
b) no one has to prove their teaching abilities to you, excuse me. Only to themselves and their students.
c) you will still be teaching when the gentleman is long gone, but I doubt you will have any laurels

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

You seem to be a bit befuddled there, Chocolate.
a) Unregistered by choice
b) no one has to prove their teaching abilities to you, excuse me. Only to themselves and their students.
c) you will still be teaching when the gentleman is long gone, but I doubt you will have any laurels

a - Got something to hide????? :rolleyes:

b - good point, so why do you think I care if you think I'm a bad teacher that is lazy and needs to get out of the profession?

c - see response b :p

[Unregistered]

Where in the heck did you get the idea that unregistered people are hiding something? Use logic, Choc. Do registered users REVEAL anything more about themselves that unregistered users/ Wow, you do grasp at straws you poor man.
No one owes you an explanation for their opinions or reasoning, pal.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Where in the heck did you get the idea that unregistered people are hiding something? Use logic, Choc. Do registered users REVEAL anything more about themselves that unregistered users/ Wow, you do grasp at straws you poor man.
No one owes you an explanation for their opinions or reasoning, pal.

no, I just like getting unregistered folk to register, and then take joy in watching them get run off.

Stuteacher
musicllover
yh8me (or something like that)

I would enjoy doing the same to you too. :p

[Unregistered]

Here ya go, oh pseudo teacher........
a) I am not going to register.
b) I will continue to make use of this forum and engage in PROFESSIONAL and intelligent posts with others.
c) If you think you are going to run me off of this forum, think again pal.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Here ya go, oh pseudo teacher........
a) I am not going to register.
b) I will continue to make use of this forum and engage in PROFESSIONAL and intelligent posts with others.
c) If you think you are going to run me off of this forum, think again pal.


that's what they all say...

[Unregistered]

choco....why is it that you are such an a$$hole? Were you born one, or did your mother teach you to be one?

I read through these posts on this forum, and more often than not, shake my head at your responses. While you may have valid frustrations in your career, most working people do.

There isn't much value to your responses when all you do is put down everything and everyone. There is nothing constructive in your responses. Some posters actually want answers or opinions that are not full of venom and spite and hate. I just don't understand I guess why every response you give, no matter the topic, is negative.

Do you ever have anything nice to say? Do you ever have any pleasant moment in your life? Do you take pleasure in ANY part of your career? To read your posts...it seems so clear that you absolutely hate everything about your job, and the educational system. Is there any part of your teaching day...NOT coaching, but TEACHING...that you DO enjoy???

[Unregistered]

To the above poster--
I am certainly not a professional, but here is my take on Chocolate New Orleans.
I believe he is a very frustrated individual who is basically a chicken sh**. He would never dare speak to people face to face the way he "speaks" to folks on here. He knows he would get the sh** beat out of him. Can you tell by his avatar pose that he is "pretending" to be cool? He is probably very frustrated and gets a real high by being a jerk on here, hiding behind his keyboard. He gets his rocks off on seeing how many people he can run off of the forum.He brags about it----sorta sick, huh? He brags that he can come on to his female colleagues and they like it (he will no doubt try to refute this, but the proof is in his post regarding such). He has to build himself up on here because no one else will do it for him. He is a very confused and angry individual. He toots his horn with made-up conconctions, which we all know would get him fired in any district.
I apologize for my "armchair psychology", but this is my take on him. Of course, he is reading this, smiling all the while because this is the sort of thing he loves to read. Anything about himself....he honestly believes that folks on here are intimidated by him. As another poster has said, it will be a cold day in h*** before he runs me off of here.

[Lynn]

I am really interested in this question of how to grade. Please stay on topic!

[Unregistered]

Grade the child accordingly. You don't have to be a teacher that drops whole grade points if a paper is late. Does the child participate in class? Do they ask questions, or have other areas of your classtime that is up to par or above that can balance out a paper being late? If you really don't believe the child is understanding what you are teaching, either you are not teaching it, or the child has an issue. That means you find out if there's an issue with the child, or you fix the way you teach. But grading should be based upon how the teacher teaches the curriculum, and whether the child themself is capable of learning how it is you are teaching it. Not every child learns the same.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

choco....why is it that you are such an a$$hole? Were you born one, or did your mother teach you to be one?

I read through these posts on this forum, and more often than not, shake my head at your responses. While you may have valid frustrations in your career, most working people do.

There isn't much value to your responses when all you do is put down everything and everyone. There is nothing constructive in your responses. Some posters actually want answers or opinions that are not full of venom and spite and hate. I just don't understand I guess why every response you give, no matter the topic, is negative.

Do you ever have anything nice to say? Do you ever have any pleasant moment in your life? Do you take pleasure in ANY part of your career? To read your posts...it seems so clear that you absolutely hate everything about your job, and the educational system. Is there any part of your teaching day...NOT coaching, but TEACHING...that you DO enjoy???

Like your first statement isn't trying to get me riled up. Nothing you would like more than for me to respond and say "HOW DARE YOU BRING MY MOTHER INTO THIS, SHE DIED OF CANCER WHEN I WAS 8 AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHT..." :rolleyes: Hilarious, you are trying to beat me at the game I mastered a long time ago.

FWIW - I love my job teaching. And believe it or not, the kids love me, too. I was out yesterday, and on my desk calendar is a note from an anonymous kid that says "love you "Chocolate_new_orleans", we miss you"

If coaching were to end this year for me, I'd be back teaching here next year. Coaching is just a bonus for me.

To the above poster--
I am certainly not a professional...
understatement of the year right there... :rolleyes:

...but here is my take on Chocolate New Orleans.
I believe he is a very frustrated individual who is basically a chicken sh**. He would never dare speak to people face to face the way he "speaks" to folks on here. He knows he would get the sh** beat out of him. Can you tell by his avatar pose that he is "pretending" to be cool? He is probably very frustrated and gets a real high by being a jerk on here, hiding behind his keyboard. He gets his rocks off on seeing how many people he can run off of the forum.He brags about it----sorta sick, huh? He brags that he can come on to his female colleagues and they like it (he will no doubt try to refute this, but the proof is in his post regarding such). He has to build himself up on here because no one else will do it for him. He is a very confused and angry individual. He toots his horn with made-up conconctions, which we all know would get him fired in any district.
I apologize for my "armchair psychology", but this is my take on him. Of course, he is reading this, smiling all the while because this is the sort of thing he loves to read. Anything about himself....he honestly believes that folks on here are intimidated by him. As another poster has said, it will be a cold day in h*** before he runs me off of here.


Confer with musicllover on the running off factor. She'll tell you she CHOSE to leave. Either way, you'll be gone

[Unregistered]

Choco, rrriiiiiight............

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Chocolate_New_Orleans;27222]Like your first statement isn't trying to get me riled up. Nothing you would like more than for me to respond and say "HOW DARE YOU BRING MY MOTHER INTO THIS, SHE DIED OF CANCER WHEN I WAS 8 AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHT..." :rolleyes: Hilarious, you are trying to beat me at the game I mastered a long time ago.

FWIW - I love my job teaching. And believe it or not, the kids love me, too. I was out yesterday, and on my desk calendar is a note from an anonymous kid that says "love you "Chocolate_new_orleans", we miss you"

If coaching were to end this year for me, I'd be back teaching here next year. Coaching is just a bonus for me.


My first statement was a sincere question. One I ask when someone is being an a$$hole. Trying to "beat" you at a game you mastered? What game is that exactly? ...I truly was wondering whether you just became this kind of person or were you raised this way. Why does anyone want to be "mastering" to ridicule everyone and everything? I cannot understand how that is a fun thing? Does this somehow boost your ego or does it help make you feel important, better somehow? Dry sense of humor?

What parts of your job is it that you "love" exactly? I never see responses about how your day was good, aside from the above response..(anonymous note).....99% of the time you just complain about your job and your students, and be sarcastic and rude in your responses to others.

Most folks don't continuously complain about every aspect of a job they "love". If they love it, it's enjoyable. Pleasure is received from it. Continued complaints of ones employment does not usually constitute loving what you do.

[Unregistered]

From another unregistered,
Here's the kicker. Chocolate actually believes that all of the posts from unregistereds questioning him and/or think he is a very poor teacher are from the SAME person! What a hoot!

[Unregistered]

Hey Choco, you are really starting to show your age with that most recent pic of yourself!

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

[quote=Chocolate_New_Orleans;27222]Like your first statement isn't trying to get me riled up. Nothing you would like more than for me to respond and say "HOW DARE YOU BRING MY MOTHER INTO THIS, SHE DIED OF CANCER WHEN I WAS 8 AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHT..." :rolleyes: Hilarious, you are trying to beat me at the game I mastered a long time ago.

FWIW - I love my job teaching. And believe it or not, the kids love me, too. I was out yesterday, and on my desk calendar is a note from an anonymous kid that says "love you "Chocolate_new_orleans", we miss you"

If coaching were to end this year for me, I'd be back teaching here next year. Coaching is just a bonus for me.


My first statement was a sincere question. One I ask when someone is being an a$$hole. Trying to "beat" you at a game you mastered? What game is that exactly? ...I truly was wondering whether you just became this kind of person or were you raised this way. Why does anyone want to be "mastering" to ridicule everyone and everything? I cannot understand how that is a fun thing? Does this somehow boost your ego or does it help make you feel important, better somehow? Dry sense of humor?

What parts of your job is it that you "love" exactly? I never see responses about how your day was good, aside from the above response..(anonymous note).....99% of the time you just complain about your job and your students, and be sarcastic and rude in your responses to others.

Most folks don't continuously complain about every aspect of a job they "love". If they love it, it's enjoyable. Pleasure is received from it. Continued complaints of ones employment does not usually constitute loving what you do.

reread, I complain about other people's lack of teaching ability. Every job has issues, and I have voiced them, but the good far outweigh the bad.

[Unregistered]

Hey Chocolate,

What's with the change in attitude and change in picture? Did your district find you out?

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Hey Chocolate,

What's with the change in attitude and change in picture? Did your district find you out?

I've said nothing unethical that I would be concerned over. Truth hurts. Don't believe that I changed anything about my approach simply because what I say actually resonated within you. It simply means, that you actually see what I'm saying and actually agree with some of it. :p

[imma kid]

i like gum gumgumgum

[Unregistered]

As I sat at my desk and read some of the comments in favor of "easy" grading, I was appalled. One teacher even went so far as to say the whole reason was to "not be hasseled, keep their job, and avoid administration." This teacher should not be employed if they are only teaching to make money or to not be hasseled. Teaching is a job where one must realize that they WILL be hasseled, they WILL have to deal with administration, and they WON'T be paid as much as they should. This kind of laziness is what makes the kids lazy. It's no wonder there are students who don't want to do anything in class. We are supposed to be an example, not create the problem.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

As I sat at my desk and read some of the comments in favor of "easy" grading, I was appalled. One teacher even went so far as to say the whole reason was to "not be hasseled, keep their job, and avoid administration." This teacher should not be employed if they are only teaching to make money or to not be hasseled. Teaching is a job where one must realize that they WILL be hasseled, they WILL have to deal with administration, and they WON'T be paid as much as they should. This kind of laziness is what makes the kids lazy. It's no wonder there are students who don't want to do anything in class. We are supposed to be an example, not create the problem.


That's easier to say/do when you are a tenured teacher. When you are an annual contracted teacher, "making waves" is not a good way to build your career.

[Parent]

:( If teachers do not set high standards for their students, then who will? What sort of favor are you doing them, to prepare them for future employment and/or college? Wow, I am glad that my teachers set high expectations for me and for my own children. I would not have settled for less. I am troubled by the responses in this thread by teachers who lower their standards to make it easier on themselves. I disagree with previous posters.....I set very high standards for my students and receive nothing but high evaluations from my superiors, have absolutely no problem with administrators and/or parents. Now, this is coming from a rural area in the Mid-west where many of my students' parents have dropped out of high school. If their students (we are talking non-IEP) cannot meet my high standards, then they don't do well in my class. Guess what? I have very few F's and much respect from my students. Idealistic you say? No, just the truth.

Thank you for keeping your standards high! I am a parent with high standards & great kids! They don't watch TV or use computers (except for research) Monday through Thursday evenings. The t.v. doesn't come on until "Friday inspection" is done (ie chores).

[Kateann]

The idea is not to be hasseled but not to be NAGGED about grades. In my school, people who have higher than 10% F's are called in for a special meeting with the principal. Who wants that? The admin wants students to have high grades, so that is what teachers must do, obey their boss!

[Unregistered]

Thank you for keeping your standards high! I am a parent with high standards & great kids! They don't watch TV or use computers (except for research) Monday through Thursday evenings. The t.v. doesn't come on until "Friday inspection" is done (ie chores).

You would not want strict grading if your kids were failing, you would want easy grading. Typical parents are like that.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

You would not want strict grading if your kids were failing, you would want easy grading. Typical parents are like that.

Exactly, this sounds like a parent that says "keep standards high" but thinks to themselves "so long as my baby doesn't begin to slip"



and the moment their kid does slip.... The meeting opens with "what are you going to do to fix this problem, Mr/Mrs Teacher"

typical hypocracy

[Unregistered]

[ The kids liked my class and no longer said it was the most difficult. Kids started doing better on assignments becuase there was no grading pressure.

I began my second career as a teacher 3 years ago. One of the most surprising things I learned about myself is that I don't care about grades. I have 145 at level students. I spend all of my energy TEACHING them...coming up with creative projects for them to express themselves....being involved with them during each of my 6 class periods...accepting work from them and evaluating it based on their individual levels. I wish I could just grade them PASS or FAIL. We don't have a "D" grade, and in my opinion, there is a HUGE difference between a C and an F...so, my motto is failure is not an option [if you try]. I require each student to try....as long as they try they can't fail. I also spend my energy teaching them, not grading them. I make sure they hand in something. And, just about all of them do their work because of the lack of grading pressure.

I'm glad I don't teach honors and/or AP. Those students are totally grade motivated (I know this because my own son is one.) Wheras, my students have gotten such poor grades for most of their life that if they get a 70 (a C) they react with a "Sweet". I know they are learning, and to me that's the most important thing. They regularly say "I LOVE THIS CLASS" and bound in the door. I know that they will learn more if they are happy and feel safe.

Oh well...just my two cents!

[Unregistered]

I have looked through all the posts on this topic and can basically say that teachers are stuck between "Scylla and Charybdis" (or a "rock and a hard place" for all you non-Latin folk) when it comes to students and grades. Personally, I place a lot of the blame on teh NCLB Act -- while I agree that there should be accountability on the school's part ragarding student performance I also believe that there needs to be an equal amount of pressure placed on the students (and, if needed, the parents) regarding effort and achievement in school . . . all that this act seems to have done is result in more "teaching to the test" so students can pass the SOLs, which not only increases the value / importance of those classes, but lowers the perceived value of non-core / SOL subjects and limits students ability to be creative and think critically since the teachers are limited in how they can waiver from the prescribed curricula for SOL subjects. In other words -- kids aren't presented with as many situations where they can practice their critcall thinking skills, often do poorly in non-SOL subjects because of the subconcious "devaluing" of those subjects, and know that they will likely be passed anyway do to this act otherwise the school will lose funding. In order for NCLB to be the most effective in my opinion is to keep the standards in place but also find ways to inegrate the non-SOL subjects into SOL lesson plans to show their (non-SOL) value, and to not punish schools who have done everything they can to help a kid learn (meet the standard) but who is doing poorly because of their own choice / lack of effort. Basically, students need to know that their teachers are their to help them if they need it, but that there are serious consequences if they don't use the tools provided.



Also, to touch upon the leniency of grades, I have found myself being very flexible with my grading this year, more so with any other year, evening considering the urban environment in which I teach. Personally, I am not happy with this because I feel that we are doing a disservice to students in the long run, but I also feel that I need to be this flexible in order to retain my job, something that I shouldn't have to feel if I am doing all that I need to do in order to help students. Case-in-point: around the 16th or so of March I distributed missing work sheets (printed from my ENGRADE online gradebook) giving students until the 2nd (3rd) of April to submit the missing assignments for full credit and based on similar opportunities I know that only 10 students at most will finish the work even though they had the week before Spring Break to work on it and the week of Spring Break, and they were provided with my email address to contact me if the had questions. I have also reiterated AD NAUSEUM that an honest, good-faith effort is what I expect, that I expect them to do the work but that if they find somehing too difficult to do to cricle it and write a question and bring it up when the class goes over it...unfortunately very few of the kids do this and choose to not do the assingment (Nota Bene -- I take the time to model what is expected of them for a particular task before I let them try it on their own). I also don't have a "set" after-school day (in part because I am at 2 different schools and the day of the week determines which school I am at); instead, I tell the students I can stay after-school any day of the week as long as I have 24hrs. notice (what I find funny is how some kids got all huffy and stated that they werent going to be making any appointments for an elective).


GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE

[Harry Bosch]

I presented an assignment that involved reading an excerpt from a book (~5 pages), observing something in nature (connected to the reading assignment), sketching and reflectively writing for 1 page about the reading and observations.

Rubric was basicly 10 pts for reading, 10 pts for observing, 10 pts for sketching, and 20 pts for writing.

Student approaches me with the graded assignment (35 out of 50) and demands to know why the low grade. I suggested that I subtracted 10 pts as it was clear that the reading assignment had not been read and 5 points from the reflective writing since the reading assignement was not reflected upon.

Student admitted to not reading the assignment. However, student demanded that I adjust the grade because they "worked really hard on it". I declined... student wanted an extra credit opportunity to make up the low grade... I suggested reading the 5-page assignment... student tried to negotiate, suggesting instead writing an internet report, or taking pictures of something. I declined. The grade stood.

The student recieved a B+ for the semester, largely due to several instances of the above described behavior. This is an 11th grader, first grade ever recieved lower than an A... who's mother just happens to be on the school board.

long story short.

The grade was changed (without my consent). And I'm working in a different district next year.

I'm sure there's another side to the story... but as far as I can tell, every teacher I've spoken to reports the same behavior from this student. The principals comment was.... "learn to play the game" or in other words "give the kid an A if you want to keep your job".

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

were you an annual contracted teacher? If so, I agree that you 'needed to change the grade' if you had planned to get rehired next year.

If you are tenured teacher, and STILL had your grades changed, you simply got bullied and should have contacted your Union rep

[Harry Bosch]

were you an annual contracted teacher? If so, I agree that you 'needed to change the grade' if you had planned to get rehired next year.

If you are tenured teacher, and STILL had your grades changed, you simply got bullied and should have contacted your Union rep

not tenured.... but have been teaching for 16 years, just the 4th in this district

I was not informed of the grade change

I only learned of it from another student who told me she was going to get her grade changed as well

when I asked about it I was told that it wasn't my business...

btw I was offered a contract, I declined it and took another job.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

still sounds like something your Union rep should have learned about, even if you moved

[anaiza torres]

still sounds like something your Union rep should have learned about, even if you moved


do u get into myspace if u do write back

[Unregistered]

Chocolate, looks like you have a little teeny-bopper admirer here!

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

yep, but at least it's gone down since I took off the picture of me that I had in my avatar for a year.

but I'm not allowed a myspace as part of my probation :rolleyes::p

[Unregistered]

Why shouldn't we be lenient? When we are lenient we have the students to graduate for doing nothing. This is not a way of resolving the issue that parents are angry if their son/daughter fails. They should be alittle more responsible to ensure that the child http://www.teach-nology.com/forum/images/icons/icon7.gifis frequently studying. It is not the teacher's fault the students fail

[Unregistered]

Especially if your principal has to get involved! If they do graduate without earning it, their parents will be the ones who have to support them when they are 30--not the teachers!

[Unregistered]

They should be alittle more responsible to ensure that the child gifis[/url] frequently studying. It is not the teacher's fault the students fail

The days of Ozzie and Harriet are long gone. We can't assume students go home to a set of parents just waiting to help their children with homework. Those days are gone.

[SS teacher]

Lower your standards just avoid being hasseled?? good grief...I am SO glad none of you teach MY children! I don't care what other parents do or don't do. I don't care what other teachers do or don't do. The bottom line is this: you went into education to teach content to students. Period. If you don't want to make sure they learn and master the material, then you should get out of education. Find another career! I teach regular students in high school, and I am very demanding. My students regularly name my class as their favorite (or one of their favorites), and I get great support from my administration. I hold my students accountable: I accept NO late work, there are NO re-takes, make-up work must be done within three days or it's a zero, and my classes have work every day in addition to notebook checks, agenda checks, projects, etc. My class is tough--and my failure rate is about 15-20%. It's well within the statistically accepted standard for ninth graders. Stop whining about parents and what they & their children will & won't do--it's been that way for years and it isn't going to change. Structure your class so that they can be successful without lowering your standards. Don't know how? Then LEARN--there are tons of professional development classes, courses, books and experienced teachers who do it every day and can show you how. Stop passing the buck and man up--take some accountability yourself and stop blaming it on everyone else!!

Also, if you DO lower your standards and refuse to fail anyone even when they don't master the curriculum, you can be sued when those kids can't function in society--and you will LOSE!! Even after 18 years of teaching I'm continually amazed at the low quality of preparation and lack of ethics I see among many of my colleagues today...and usually they're the ones whining about being treated "professionally!" Do us all a favor and find some other career--YOU are the reason so many people lack respect for teachers! If this is your attitude you should be fired and your certificate revoked permanently. If you just don't know any better, then you're incompetent and should still be fired. (I'm not sure which scenario is scarier!) Find a way to make kids love to learn and you won't have to fight them, their parents, or your administration. I did it--so can you.

[Unregistered]

Well that was fun...
Im a student in 9th grade and i just waisted an hour of time...because you guys were intresting... plz don't take that as a complement...and if you do then...just ignore what im about to say. I don't really care about grades and stuff as long as i pass...but i want to get an A...im just to lazy to try but i get mostly B's and some times A's and C's
ok first of all stop being so intresting.
secondly dont complain about EVERYTHING... if your child fails one class and you go to the teacher with out yelling and say why did my child fail...then you will get either he/she is lazy and won't do work or they dont understand it...but they didn't come to get help...if your child says i did everything and understood it completly before you talk about what happened then their either lying or...something

and i still dont know why im writing this because im never gonna look at this again...i was trying to make a word search and i got to this page some how...? and i hope i come back and see what you say when i have more time :P it'll be fun

so if you comment on me then ill be suprised...and not really caring...I really dont know what i just read..............(tells you how much i care) but this is just a waist of time :P so i like it xD hope you all have a good time and have fun arguing and gitting off topic...like talking about personal lives...well i guess that's on topic because your all personal people...im just rambling on and waisting more time :P so ima gonna get back to work see ya and have fun arguing about school...

P.S. i dont really care about school...its all the homework and crap that i hate >.<
P.S.S im just waisting your time reading this :P
P.S.S.S dododododododdo
P.S.S.S.S im bored :D bye for now ill read everything sonner or later :P like i said im trying to make a word search and its being a pain in the butt :P can i say that? xD
P.S.S.S.S.S i need to do my homework xD and sry about waisting all your time D:
P.S.S.S.S.S.S and im sorry about all these P.S's xP also if this offends anyone xD

[Unregistered]

I am not an easy grader. I feel that a student must earn a passing grade. High school students need to learn responsibility and accountability! Remember that these children will be running our world in the near future. You think we have problems with social security now?! Just wait....some of my high school juniors don't know how to convert percents into decimals, I keep them after class and go over how to do it as many times as they need, and I am not even a math teacher! Our job is to prepare our students for the "real" world. If we pass them when they don't do the work imagine their surprise when they get fired for not doing their job. My administration stands behind me 100% no matter what grades I am giving students. If parents have a problem with me expecting students to do the work then that is their problem. I am fair when it comes to grading and I do have high expectations. I believe those expectations create an environment where students know they have to do the work...there is NO FREE RIDE in my classroom!

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Lower your standards just avoid being hasseled?? good grief...I am SO glad none of you teach MY children! I don't care what other parents do or don't do. I don't care what other teachers do or don't do. The bottom line is this: you went into education to teach content to students. Period. If you don't want to make sure they learn and master the material, then you should get out of education. Find another career! I teach regular students in high school, and I am very demanding. My students regularly name my class as their favorite (or one of their favorites), and I get great support from my administration. I hold my students accountable: I accept NO late work, there are NO re-takes, make-up work must be done within three days or it's a zero, and my classes have work every day in addition to notebook checks, agenda checks, projects, etc. My class is tough--and my failure rate is about 15-20%. It's well within the statistically accepted standard for ninth graders. Stop whining about parents and what they & their children will & won't do--it's been that way for years and it isn't going to change. Structure your class so that they can be successful without lowering your standards. Don't know how? Then LEARN--there are tons of professional development classes, courses, books and experienced teachers who do it every day and can show you how. Stop passing the buck and man up--take some accountability yourself and stop blaming it on everyone else!!

Also, if you DO lower your standards and refuse to fail anyone even when they don't master the curriculum, you can be sued when those kids can't function in society--and you will LOSE!! Even after 18 years of teaching I'm continually amazed at the low quality of preparation and lack of ethics I see among many of my colleagues today...and usually they're the ones whining about being treated "professionally!" Do us all a favor and find some other career--YOU are the reason so many people lack respect for teachers! If this is your attitude you should be fired and your certificate revoked permanently. If you just don't know any better, then you're incompetent and should still be fired. (I'm not sure which scenario is scarier!) Find a way to make kids love to learn and you won't have to fight them, their parents, or your administration. I did it--so can you.


I love getting preached at by self-proclaimed SUPER-TEACHERS. Everyday I wake up, I pray that I find the store that you bought your Rose-tinted glasses from. I still haven't yet though. :rolleyes:

[Unregistered]

This summer, I have decided that all students will pass my class unless they do not attend. I was reamed out by an assistant principal at the end of the last school year and I am tired of it. I had 13% F's, which put me on the radar of being the "bad teacher". I was told to change what I was doing so that I could "motivate" more students to pass. I am not really happy about it but I figure that I do not need the stress.

(I do teach 8th grade, but this thread caught my eye.)

[Unregistered]

I have to say that this thread encompasses about 99% of all of the B.S. in modern education. I moved over into teaching high school from working in the laboratory about four years ago. I have worked in three systems (the first two were 'chronically underperforming' districts). Since making that change in my life, the amount of contradiction and the number of conflicting directives that have been given to me seems infinite.

The government long ago decided to 'not leave children behind' by eliminating educational segregation.......instating IEPs.......and then telling the teacher they must teach to ALL of the different learning styles. As if the pages long list of accommodations can all be easily accounted for when teaching any concept. This is 'one size fits all' education. What a foolish concept. On a regular basis I am told, 'raise the bar' and 'keep the number of failures low'. I remember thinking in my first year that I could legitimately fail HALF of these kids. I was told specifically, however, that I would not be asked to come back if I have too many failures. Also, in my first week of teaching, my principal asked me, 'How is it going up there? Are you keeping all of the problems in your room?' (In other words, not sending kids to the office). My second school (a vocational school), that couldn't even put together an honors course full of kids, was putting in AP courses because it 'looks good' from the states perspective. All of this, and more, really make you think about how poorly the US infrastructure is set up. An entire education system that is set up based on the idea that 'sh*t flows downhill'. No matter how bad the local and federal gov't messes things up, it will always be about 'teachers not doing their jobs'. It will NEVER be about how 'parents and politicians aren't doing their jobs'.

Another thing I have learned in this field is that you have to teach according to your personality. Kids today will only respect you if you are real. If you are not much of a disciplinarian, but you try to teach as one.......they will see right through you. In MOST cases, Kids these days spend more time with their teachers than their parents.......believe me.......they know you. Those things that have always been taboo to talk about........yeah........they know about all of those things too. It is called Google. The fact of the matter is that society has changed. It has become soft. All those years of frowning upon spanking kids and emphasizing self esteem had to lead somewhere, right? Parents side with their kids, and use their lawyers to apply pressure.

So, Chocolate, listen up.........teach how you need to teach in order to keep coming back year after year. One thing you will never escape is a colleagues 'righteous judgement' on how you should do YOUR job. Just make sure you are trying to teach them to the best of your ability. In every teacher's mind, there is no other way to do things right but their own way. Everyone elses way leads to......'not doing the kids any favors by (insert righteously judged activity here)'. My personal favorites are the ones that hang in sewing circles and talk smack about other teachers/administration/students. These types did not get enough drama out of high school the first time around, and came back to 'control' their experience this time. As a teacher, I do the best I can with the groups that I am given. I try to be as flexible as possible in order to 'accommodate', and I always receive good evaluations from administrators. As teachers in america today, it seems that we must adapt to the students almost as much as they are asked to adapt to us.

[Unregistered]

I teach Biology in the alternative high school system which means that most of my students are between the ages of 16 and 21 years old. Many of them have been kicked out of other high schools and I am their last chance. Many of my students have one or more children of their own. some of them have reading and math deficits with scores as low as 4.0 (or lower) as a result of teachers giving them "social promotions" because of their age in elementary school. They say that I am one of the hardest teachers in the school because I am the most demanding. I give the most home work. I assign the most projects. I give "F"s on progress reports for the kids that don't come to class and refuse to try. However, if a student dares to try, 90% of the time I will pass them. This seems to work for the student, their parents, the administration, and it keeps me employed. When I grade I usually count the projects, tests, and quizzes only. The rest is primarily filler. Try it.

[Unregistered]

I teach Biology in the alternative high school system which means that most of my students are between the ages of 16 and 21 years old. Many of them have been kicked out of other high schools and I am their last chance. Many of my students have one or more children of their own. some of them have reading and math deficits with scores as low as 4.0 (or lower) as a result of teachers giving them "social promotions" because of their age in elementary school. They say that I am one of the hardest teachers in the school because I am the most demanding. I give the most home work. I assign the most projects. I give "F"s on progress reports for the kids that don't come to class and refuse to try. However, if a student dares to try, 90% of the time I will pass them. The students enjoy my class and most of them think that I am fair (this is important). This seems to work for the students, their parents, the administration, and it keeps me employed. When I grade I usually count the projects, labs, tests, and quizzes only. The rest is primarily filler. Students from prvious years become my biggest promoters. They tell the new students that Mr. H will fail you if you don't try. This helps me out a lot.

[Unregistered]

:( If teachers do not set high standards for their students, then who will? What sort of favor are you doing them, to prepare them for future employment and/or college? Wow, I am glad that my teachers set high expectations for me and for my own children. I would not have settled for less. I am troubled by the responses in this thread by teachers who lower their standards to make it easier on themselves. I disagree with previous posters.....I set very high standards for my students and receive nothing but high evaluations from my superiors, have absolutely no problem with administrators and/or parents. Now, this is coming from a rural area in the Mid-west where many of my students' parents have dropped out of high school. If their students (we are talking non-IEP) cannot meet my high standards, then they don't do well in my class. Guess what? I have very few F's and much respect from my students. Idealistic you say? No, just the truth.

Where are teacher's backbones? I pass other classrooms and see students climbing the walls and I wondered, why? Now I know! I get students who constantly whine about doing homework - now I know why! I keep my standards high and teach to the "middle" and my students and parents thank me for it. And, YES!! I teach in an inner city, low income area (for 16 years). I too am sick and tired of being blamed for all of the students who fail because of laziness or indifference. But it doesn't prevent me from doing my job! I've had administrators on my tail because parents were on theirs or for failing too many seniors before graduation; and you know what? I stood up to them with documentation and the knowledge that I've done a good job in my classroom that even they can't deny. Even my failing students admit that their grade is their fault and not mine. I get hugs from parents and students for caring about their future, even when they don't. Why? Because my students know that I have done all I can to help them learn. So anyone more worried about their own behind more than their students future needs to get out of education. (Notice I didn't say get out of the classroom, because that is what a lot of bad administrators did!)

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

you simply have only been annoyed by admin pressure. The moment you get burned hard on the issue by admin (grade overturned, recieve bad review in your permanent record or take a crap placement next year as retaliation for this year's grading) you will sing a different tune.

You will either hold to your values and morals and leave the career, or you will be so far into your career that you starting over is out of the option, and you will simply burn out and go through the motions.

Some teachers get lucky and never get in 'trouble' for being too hard a teacher, I hope you remain one of them, but don't be naive about the realities of teaching

[Unregistered]

From a student's point of view, the teachers that were easy on me during my earlier school years and on into high school were the ones whose classes I enjoyed the most. They always made class fun and exciting, something I actually would look forward to rather than dread. However, if you asked me what I learned in any of those classes, I could tell you nothing. While the teachers were like friends to me, that wasn't what I needed. I was in a builing filled with hundreds of kids my age, friends was the last thing I needed. What I needed was a teacher. The best teachers I can remember, the ones who really stand out in my memory, the ones who really taught me something, are the ones who pushed me. They are the ones who forced me to read or else fail, to do the assignments or sit out during class. They pushed me beyond what I thought I could do, to existential growth, to prove to myself that I could do whatever I put my mind to. The teachers that really impacted my life were the ones who DIDN'T let me slack off. By letting a student be lazy you're are just enabling them to lead a lazy lifestyle. A teacher who enables a student to be lazy so that they dont' have to deal with angry parents is just as bad as a wife who enables her alcoholic husband to drink his life away because she wants to avoid an argument. I believe that teachers who just let students "get by" without really making them apply themselves are the ones who are hurting our education system. This used to be a country filled to the brim with educational exellence. Now we're not even in the top 20. How sad is that? If we don't push ourselves in life we never accomplish anything. If Louis Pasture had just been lazy and sat around working a minimum wage job and just "getting by", we wouldn't have a cure for rabies! Letting a student turn in mediocre work and giving them an A is only going to teach them to "half-a$$" in life, too. Don't let your students slack off, give them structure and discipline and rules and guidance. Though we adolesents never act as though we feel this way, these things are really what we crave! If you want to be a good teacher, than make sure your students leave your class after having learned something. You can be loud and animated and creative to be a cool and fun teacher, don't be easy to be a cool teacher.

[Unregistered]

It is the teacher's job to hold the line. Motivate these kids to do more meaningful work. Kids have turned off because they are expected to do the work. Little time is spent on checking if they learned the material. If homework is the issue for failure.... Don't give wasteful homework. And when you do, grade it for learning not just doing.
Because the country has given up on education, should teacher too?
Teachers are their worst enemy. We complain but expect respect.
We complain that our jobs are hard and stressful then tell our kids to get a good education so that they can get a good job like ours. we would the kids want to do this if we have bad jobs?

Good teachers teach. Good teaching get results. Be transperent with the parents, let then know what is happenening in the class. Even my worst student's parent could not compain because I have kept them in the loop every step o the way.

Yes it is hard!!! If you are not up to the challenge, they are hiring at Walmart.

[garcia202]

I'm not an "easy grader", but I don't give F grades and am thrilled when my students earn an A on an assignment or on their report card.

If students don't turn in work, they earn a 0. If they turn in their assignments on time, the lowest grade they receive is a D. They can rework assignments for higher grades within 2 weeks of the due date. Sounds pretty liberal.

I still end up with 15-25% of students failing the first or last period of the day. They can't get to school on-time, or they skip the last period and then don't make up missed work. I still get calls from parents, but explaining the grading policy puts the blame squarely on the student's organizational skills or work ethic. The blame is never that I was too subjective on grading the artwork.

[Liane]

I went home each day refreshed, parent conferences were a breeze and I no longer had the dreaded chat with my administration. The kids liked my class and no longer said it was the most difficult. Kids started doing better on assignments becuase there was no grading pressure.

I still use this system today and it has kept me in teaching. Lenient grading may not be the best thing for students in the long run, but it keeps me employed, keeps kids interested in my subject matter and keeps the admin happy (let's face it, that is the goal, to not be hasseled).


I totally agree with you, and then I totally disagree.

YES! When there is less stress related to grading, you feel refreshed, and so does everyone around you (including the kids).

That's why I disagree with your statement on lenient grading not being the best thing for students. I think it's probably the best thing for students. In fact, I am very very likely to pass a kid who is failing academically, as long as I see them working hard and improving in some way. What kind of a message do you send a kid if they improve and you fail them for it? The result would be, "I HATE SCHOOL." And I am more likely to find a behavioral reason to fail a kid who was obviously capable of passing academically, but behaved in a socially reprehensible way. I see it this way: if a student tries hard, he/she will continue to try hard after High School and become an asset to society. Especially if they feel good about their efforts (i.e., they passed). So what if they don't have a particular skill in a particular subject? School doesn't teach everything, and they may have something very valuable to contribute to society.

[Unregistered]

Make your grades clear to everyone who is interested. When I give writing assignments, I make clear what I'm expecting. I don't think anyone can argue that not turning in work amounts to a zero grade. One advantage of having high stakes testing (which I vehemently disagree with) is that kids can't pretend that what is being taught doesn't matter. Any absence, excused or otherwise, involves missing instruction on tested material. The state develops comprehensive tests, including the days a student might have been absent. We have to keep student work in a portfolio against any possible appeal that might be made against the grade they receive. Teachers look foolish when a student fails an exam badly but passes all his classwork. Teachers have to have a transparent grade system in place so that there is no surprise or confusion. Don't let a parent argue with you personally; make them argue with your system.