This entry is kind of a modified version of my reaction to this case. Jane’s dilemma (and variations of it) is one of the most frequently discussed among faculty at the public high school I teach. People take strong sides and get very entrenched on this one. In Jane’s case, she is too far down this road to change the grade. Willie knows his grade (which means his friends do as well), and the principal knows the grade. It’s now impossible, it seems to me, for Jane to change this grade without inviting a world of trouble from her peers, other kids in the class, parents, etc.
I have a lot to say about this but here, it seems to me, is the central issue: What does it say that in this scenario, Jane faces a confrontation with a principal who does not even believe in the system he has allowed his math department to adopt.? Why is she fighting the principal about upholding a standard? Personally, I strongly oppose such a rigid system, and think all grading (yes, even math) has some subjectivity, but this school adopted this system. If the administration is not going to support the math teachers for drawing this hard line, then why in the world are they doing it?
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Hi! I could not agree with you more! I had the same responses in my case study. Jane really ruined it for herself by joking with Willie about his grade and putting on that whole show the first day of classes (with the grading system on the board). In response (to the part about her fighting the principal about the grading system he approved) I think that perhaps Jane has taken this grading system more literally than it was intended, and that's why the principal reacted that way.
I would question her integrity and her fortitue if she were to bend on the grade, especially since she has made a big deal about it with the students, staff, and administrators. I think that she learned her lesson that there needs to be some flexibility in grades, and perhaps the grading system that the school implemented needs to be overhauled. I also agree that if the administration is not on board with this, then there needs to be some changes.
I agree with you Tom. I thought the same thing about the principal when I read the case. I understand that each department is probably allowed to create their own grading system, but if the principal is against it why would a department do so. Also, just because Math might be a more black and white subject it does not mean that it can not be subjective as well. I feel with especially Math some kids have it and some kids don't. If a kid is putting in the effort, he or she should be rewarded in the end.
Tom, I always enjoy hearing your insight and ideas in class. Likewise, your thoughts on the issue of grading made me think more about my own beliefs. The inconsistency between departments and leadership rattles me. As an English teacher, grading is very subjective; however, I do my best to be fair to every student - even the occasional few who get under my skin. Whenever I am unsure about what grade to give, I offer the class an "optional" extra-credit assignment. The students who do it, get a little boost. I also try to make expectations about effort clear to the students. Not every student can or should be graded the exact same way. Just as there are different kinds of learners - these unique individuals need to be assessed on their own unique improvement.
Hi Tom, I definitely agree with your comments. Perhaps it is the elementary teacher in me, but I feel when too much emphasis is put on grades, we loose the real purpose of our teaching. We should be teaching them to WANT to learn and do well and the ridged grading policy can take away from that. By Jane telling Willie his grade, she made the situation worse. At this point, she has a much more difficult situation because he will either come less motivated or feel more entitled. If I were Jane, I would have given him two tenths of a point and called it a day.
Tom, I couldn't agree with you more. In my response, I wrote that Jane opted to give up her subjectivity when she became one of the leading proponents of the new grading policy. I can't understand why she's even on the fence with Willie's issue when she was the main person who wanted this system so that she would avoid having to make such a decision concerning student grades.
I actually don't understand why the school doesn't have PLUS and MINUS grades anyway. That omission, in and of itself, opens the gates for numerous problems and crippling indecision among the teaching staff.
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