[etni] Fw: Telling it like it is
- From: "Ask Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: "Etni" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:47:28 +0200
----- Original Message -----
From: sbshai - sbshai@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Telling it like it is
Hello colleagues,
I would like to propose a new poll on ETNI which asks teachers about their
opinion of the tziun shnati.
Let's be frank: Isn't this grade rather farcical? First, it is not an
honest grade because we usually want (or are expected) to provide a "magen"
for our students, which inherently suggests a largesse that may not be
deserved. However, no matter how carefully we devise our system for
determining this grade -- and regardless of the considerable pains we take
to be fair -- it is inevitable that there will be disgruntled students,
parents and/or administrators. (This is likely to be so even if we've
stretched reality to the boundaries of fantasy!)
Since students can retake the modules until they get one that's easy enough
for them to do well on (and it's the highest grade that counts), I wish
someone could explain why it's necessary to give a shnati mark at all;
perhaps this should be an exclusive privilege for industrious students who
are weak test-takers. Our effort is worthwhile for these students, at
least. (Yes, I realize it can be problematic to decide who should be
considered in this category!)
What happens too often in the current situation is that the least worthy
pupils work mightily (many for the first time in their student careers!) to
wheedle a few more undeserved points out of their harried teachers. (I
refer to this as shuk tziunim.) If this doesn't work, they can always try
complaining to the mechanechet and/or the princiPAL that the teacher just
doesn't like them. (The more candid ones will call it taking revenge!) As
most of us know, this system unfortunately sometimes works in their favor.
In too many schools, or so I have heard, teachers are encouraged to inflate
grades. But as I anticipate a storm about to rage over my head, I'll stop
right here!
Pleasant (as possible) deliberating,
Batya
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