Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Grade curving Obama style
My husband is a college professor and while he was grading tests this week decided he would grade the Obama way. He would take a percentage from the grade of those who got A's and B's and add it to the grades of those who got D's and F's. That way they could share the wealth and everyone would get C's. After all what makes the students, who studied and worked hard and showed up for office hours for extra help, think they deserve a better grade than those who just coasted through to get that C or even those who did nothing and if having problems didn't bother to come to his many office hours for help? Why should the harder working industrious students get better grades and thus a better paying job when they graduate? So, Obama style grade curving is the only way to make sure every student gets the same and no one gets a better grade (i.e. makes more money) than the other.
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4 comments:
That sounds more like No Child Left Behind than Obama's way at anything. Basically, the only way no child is left behind is if no child gets ahead. (My post on that subject.) And that's basically what I'm expected to do so that our schools won't get decertified by the government.
Now, in my opinion, Obama's way to grade would be to pair up the F students with the A students before the test, to study and review. That way the F student can get one on one help that Keith wouldn't be able to give otherwise. Then the A student still gets and A and the F student has a lot better shot at an A.
That is not Obama's way. Obama said those who make a lot of money should share the wealth...not team up with those who don't have their education, knowledge, and business expertise to teach the one who can't how to do it. He said the ones who worked their butts off to earn their money should be willing to give it up to those who don't have the expertise to earn as much. Share the wealth does not translate to let me show you how to earn your own money instead of taking mine.
Oh, and we agree about the no child left behind means no child gets ahead. Basically share the wealth means no person left behind means no person gets ahead.
Don't forget also that the ones getting F's are the ones who don't care enough to try. Do you really think if they were offered a study partner they would take it? That's been tried and they come up with all kinds of excuses as to why they can't make it. They don't even come into my office for office hours and I am on teacher who is always here and who's door is always open. They tell me they don't have to learn because the government will take care of them. You can't force them to learn with that kind of attitude.
Keith kxj01@aol.com
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