Just in Case
Hypothetical situation #1:
You have a student who honestly tries hard to do their work, consistently comes to school and turns in assignments on time, and is never a behavior problem. They are one of the "smart" kids and participate in a number of after school clubs because one of their best friends from their neighborhood does and, at some point, someone just might have told them that they too were academically superior. The students is a complete joy to have in your class and always asks to help with little things that you're doing such as passing out papers or cleaning up your room. Quite nice.
Problem: The kids is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Despite attempting to do the classwork most of their assignments are graded as D's and F's since the student rarely follows directions to assignments, really struggles with reading comprehension questions, and cannot write cohesive paragraphs using standard English. At the end of the nine week period after all is said and done the student ends up with a 69 average. You have told the students time and time again that you do not and WILL not give out any points extra on a report card just as will not take any away. Although the students will not know this, you can change her grade. Only you will bear the knowledge of having violated your principle. What do you do?
Hypothetical situation #2:
After a long day at work you are invited to a party at a social club in the small, rural town where you teach and live. You're not sure who has invited you but you think, "Hey...I'm 22!" and decide to go. You hear that this is where the elite of your town party so you're looking forward to it as an opportunity to meet and mingle with these so-called "elite." Upon arrival at the party's venue the first person you see is a student of yours. A star student. Actually, one of the star students at the school. You soon find out that the party is a birthday party for the student's father. She is helping set-up and music is playing inside the social club while alcohol is being brought in by the caseload. The student's father thanks you fervently for coming and says that once the kids leave you should let loose and get down (meaning drink, dance or do more with the scantily clad women on their way, and engage in weekday/work night tomfoolery). To top it off your principal, a good friend of the birthday man, soon shows up and pours himself the first of what may be numerous alcoholic drinks as he slaps you on the back and addresses you in an informal and friendly manner the likes of which you've never seen from your boss. It could be a long night. What do you do?
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Comments
Regardless, if a student has tried really hard and comes so close to passing, I would find a way to have them "earn" a 70. Give extra credit for helping to clean up the room, etc. I was in a very similar position last semester and asked my department chair told me that, while there were things that the student did not do (aka 31 percent of the work), there were probably things that you didn't do either. Maybe if you had explained one concept better during lecture the student would have earned a couple of extra points on an exam, maybe if you gave students a model of a perfect paragraph in standard English they would have an example of follow, maybe if you were in a little better mood when grading essays you would have graded a little laxer. Email what you did -- I'm curious!
I agree with Molly. It is very easy for us to decide what to do for a student who is disruptive, does not do work, and fails to ask for help. If the student above exhibited these characteristics, you probably would not have a problem with this situation. I think that this student deserves the extra help needed to help her pass.
When I look at my student's grades, I evaluate myself first. Is there anything I could have done better to help the student achieve a higher grade? Did I teach everyday to the best of my abilities? Did I come prepared everyday? If the answer is no to even one of these questions, then you have to account for this error in your students' grades.
stay at the party, but do not drink. when the host and principal ask you why you are not "getting down to funky town", simply explain that you have a previous engagement and will have to leave the party early (ie. moms in the hospital, gotta call and check up. dog died yesterday, gotta bury the body. going hunting with a friend from out of state. anything) this way you can save face with the "elite" by staying at the party but also maintain respect from your student who will obviously tell her friends about what she saw you doing at the party
Situation #1: I say the kid gets a 70/C. In this situation, you can average an "effort"/"attitude" grade into his/her average, and this child gets 100% in that category.
Situation #2: I don't think I'd attend a party if I wasn't sure who had invited me (although, in mentioning this, I can't help but remember the occasion 3 years ago when a student's mother invited me to her lingere party (she was selling it out of her home). Personally, I avoid most social situations invoving my students and their families, except for the odd ball game if the student has invited me. I gotta have my boundaries. That being said--I agree with smeargle--don't drink. And, come up with a great reason to slide out after about 30 minutes so you don't have to compromise your values. Kids watch everything we do. Let loose and get down in the neighboring town.
There's a certain element of prudishness to life in Mississippi, I've found. People are ashamed if students see them buying beer in the supermarket, or if they run into a student at night. I don't feel bad about this at all. I'm over 21; I'm a responsible adult. I think that by trying to hide these things from the students it just reinforces the message that it is all bad. Of course we shouldn't flaunt it either, but I say go ahead, have fun you're comfortable with at the party!
Molly nailed Situation #1.
As for Situation #2 -
My philosophy on the whole one percentage point differential is that I could have made a mistake somewhere along the way that may have made a difference, and if I feel like a student deserves a grade, I will find a way for them to have earned that extra point. On the other hand, if it is something that they will be floundering the next year and be worse off, maybe try to convince them summer school is the best option to reinforce the topics.