Why do some teachers give very low grades even if the student is active?
By ShenniLy
@ShenniLy (45)
Philippines
August 19, 2010 10:51pm CST
I've been a teacher in a university for 5 years now, and since my 1st year of teaching, I NEVER give low grades to my students unless they're always absent in my class. Attending in my classes is one way of showing students' effort.
But as what I've heard, there are some professors who are insensitive because they give very low grades when in fact the student reports to school always, submits assignments, participates in discussions and activities, but gets a low score on tests. And what's even worse, all of the students in a single class receive grades that are so low that the highest is 82 and the lowest is 71. As I know from other people, it's the teachers' own way of setting their standards; partly true, but isn't it because on their way of teaching, attitude, or the strategies they have? You will only know when a teacher is effective when at least there are few students receive high grades and the rest of them receive the low ones. But what about in the former case? Does it mean that it reflects on the teachers' performance too?
4 responses
@tkonlinevn (6447)
• Vietnam
20 Aug 10
I think that grades is only one way of showing students' effort. So, grades should be reference, not use to value a person.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
22 Aug 10
I know some teachers are rather harsh. I barely got through with a B many times, where another teacher on another day, would give me an "A" for that class. There are many different methods of teaching, for right and wrong. I have had teachers that are rather similiar, but not the same. I have had teachers on both ends of the extreme. Some teachers were too nice with their grades and other teachers were rather harsh as well.
I think in many ways, teachers think they are helping the students by being so harsh. I guess you could argue about that. However, from another extreme, that could destroy the self esteem of a student. If a student is going to not do as well, many of them get into their, "I'm not doing good, so why should I care." Not all students mind you but a lot of them do in fact. It is sad. Of course, a lot of the times, the bad performance does reflect poorly on the teacher.
@hari1111 (238)
• New Zealand
20 Aug 10
I think its like like a double edged sword.
If everyone in the teachers class gains good marks it could only mean 2 things. The teacher is very good at his/her job. Or this could also mean that he/she is too lenient. As I said this is both good or bad unless the teacher has a reputation for excellence.
Then again if the teacher has very little who do well it could also mean 2 things. The teacher is too harsh on his/her students. This could reflect badly on the teachers reputation and possibly the institutions. Or the teacher is very good and sets the bar high. This is good because it also boosts the reputation of the students who did well in their class.
I mainly think its subjective to the teacher.
@marguicha (216487)
• Chile
20 Aug 10
I have been a university teacher too and I graded the papers in a sort of Gauss distribution.There are always better and worse overall activity. I put a grade for participation, another for asistance and then I graded the papers. That way, asistance has a percentage (but not too much as some students are not even listening what it is said in class and teachers know that). Participation is worth more but it is more complex. It´s something similar as participation here at mylot: a complex of many variables.
I don´t think that if a student shows effort it is enough to pass. The university is higher education and the world does not need everyone to be a PhD. I´m sure many bad university students can be very good technicians or blue collar workers. They will be happier, they will do better jobs and the world needs them.
