July 11, 2013

• Major Goat Gotten Alert! Had a Cow!

  Extremely sick of wiping student butts with my grade book and finding ways to give them grades that they have not earned just to keep the school happy.  As long as the statistics are good it doesn't matter what the students know.   Had an altercation today.  I collected a homework assignment from all of the classes, and many of the students either didn't bother to hand it in or did such a bad job that I returned it to them and told them to do it over because it was just unacceptable.  I could have just gone ahead and giving them a horrible grade, but I wanted to give them another chance.  How mean is that?

  I could simply not account for a paper in one of the classes, and I looked through the papers handed in at least four times, but for the life or me could find no paper from Miss M.  I sent a large note (that couldn't get lost) back to her when I returned the other papers to the class telling her that I didn't have her assignment and could she please do it. I had the homeroom teacher read a list of people who had not completed the assignment.  Still no reaction.  I went and personally talked to the girl and told her that this was the third time she had been contacted, and she said no, it was only the second time. (HUH??) So she did hear once and still did nothing. 

  The semester is ending and I have to have grades in the computer, so I tried catching her again after school yesterday only to find that she had gone home.  The homeroom teacher was in the room, so I showed him the empty space in my gradebook and he said, "Oh, was she on the list, too? I thought that was your name so I didn't read it. Sorreeey!" Miss M and I happen to have the same last name. OK, a misunderstanding can happen.  Then he starts in on me that if she said she handed in the paper and I say I didn't get it then it's like calling the student a liar, which is very hurtful.  Yes, I know, which is why I was careful not to even imply that she was lying. I don't know what happened to the paper, except that I never saw it.

  The easiest solution to the problem is for her to just redo it and hand it in. Oh, no, says idiot homeroom teacher, because then I am not thinking of the poor student's feelings at all! I should only have her do half the assignment if she has to redo it.  Um, she can redo the assignment in fifteen minutes with her eyes shut, so it isn't as if I demanded that she rewrite a term paper or anything! Oh, no, says idiot teacher, the length of the assignment is not the point.  Her FEELINGS are the point? (HUH??) So, um, exactly what am I supposed to do about this empty space in my grade book? How can I give her all the points I want to give her to HELP HER GET A BETTER GRADE if she only redoes half or the assignment?? How is she going to FEEL when she sees the rotten grade that she will get if she doesn't turn in the assignment? I don't know where the blame for the lost paper lies (maybe she is lying, but it's just her word against mine), but I am certain that I never got it. It was important.  I looked for it.  I contacted the student that there was a problem and she just ignored me. But idiot teacher is now pinning the blame on me because I was careless and callous. (HHUUHH??) I looked for the nonexistent paper, contacted the student three times, apologetically explained the situation to her and asked her to pretty please hand in the assignment one more time so I can give her a better grade!! Isn't that better than just giving her a zero, which would have been the only alternative?

  "So what do you want me to do?" sez idiot teacher. (I want you to get on Miss M's case and tell her to turn in the blankety-blank assignment!) By this point we had both gotten pretty testy.  I am usually in favor of cooperation and compliance, but this guy was now at the top of the "get my goat" list, and I allowed myself to argue with him SO I COULD GIVE THE KID A BETTER GRADE!! How surreal is that? He was actually blocking me from giving the kid a better grade!! This was making less and less sense.  OK, idiot, just give me the kid's phone number and I will call her at home and beg her for her homework a FOURTH time, since I am making no headway with you! I called Miss M and she will be in school on Tuesday with her redone assignment, or so she said.  Will this really happen? I actually am finished for the semester and don't have any business in school until September, but I have to make a special trip (one hour each way on the train) just to get her assignment.  How mean is that?

  I remember that I had to redo an assignment for German class.  I did my homework, and another not so great student who was having trouble asked if she could see what I had written. Sure, I said, helpful soul that I am. Well, the homework was handed in and was returned, and I had a big fat "F" on my paper. The teacher told me that he had gotten two assignments that were exactly the same and that both of them had gotten an "F." He knew who had really done the work, and I understood perfectly why he flunked both papers. It was a very wise decision on his part. I asked if I could redo the paper and he said I could, so I redid the assignment on my own initiative WITHOUT WHINING and got a good mark on it, problem solved and experience gained. Never lend anyone your homework.  My feelings had nothing to do with it. You want the grade, you do the work. That's all.

  • 04:17
  • 1 Comment