🚀 go-pugleaf

I side with Nancy on this discussion about grading homework.  It may be a
stretch, but if one always expects repayment for everything, then volunteer
work is surely doomed.  This came to mind as I was out today pulling ivy
off trees in a botanical garden with a small group of students.  My
'Carlton Fisk/Johnny Bench' knees no long appreciate these activities.

My students are assigned reading but I do not grade them on it.  They are
assigned or expected to read my e-mail messages to them but I don't grade
them on it.  Nor are they graded directly on how they handle lab
equipment, but they sure know what is expected in the lab.  Students know
there is a high correlation between problem practice and test results.

I want my students to learn for the 'love of learning' and we do all we
can at this school to instill that ethic.  For that reason, we do not give
grades except for college purposes.  That means grades are kept in
the office and students and/or parents can ask for them.  All students
graduate together as equals.  The greedy '80's made some of these
stands more difficult but we still try to maintain a system that
emphasizes learning, NOT grades.  Teaching and learning are highly prized
activities.

Teachers need to work out a system that has integrity, both for them and
their students.  What we do at our school will not work in all communities
and I don't want anyone to think the above paragraph is a "better than
thou" position.  As a faculty we worked through this philosopy over a period
of years beginning back in the '60's and just this last fall gave it another
review.  As other teachers mentioned, there is no perfect position or
system.

Lowell


 On Tue, 21 Feb 1995, Nancy Kerr wrote:

> On Tue, 21 Feb 1995, James David Button wrote:
>
> > I think that if you assign it, and if you think that it is
> > important enough to assign, then you should grade it.  I have a
> > daughter whose teacher frequently assigns and does not collect
> > the homework.  This send mixed signals to the kids and reduces
> > the value of homework when it is "for real"
> > Just an opinion.
>
> I'm afraid I have to disagree - students do not get credit for everything
> they do in school any more than you get credit for everything you do for
> work.  Why would we want to reinforce the idea of instant payoff or you
> don't do it?  I explain to my students that the payoff for doing their
> homework will be the grade they get on the next test, on their next
> report card, the scolarships they may get, etc.  I don't think it is
> necessary to check up on them every day - we are supposed to be trying to
> teach them more than just physics - we are also supposed to be teaching
> them to be independent responsible young adults.
>
> ************************************
> * Nancy Kerr                       *
> * Winnipeg MB                      *
> * nkerr@minet.gov.mb.ca            *
> ************************************