As ‘Grading for Equity’ Movement Grows, More Teachers Are Pushing Back

Every class I taught, from High School to College had clearly explained criteria for the class. I agree that tests should be multiple, (not one high stakes exam) and I allowed retakes of exams (with different problems). I counted homework and labs, and missing a few brought down a grade but doing them all usually resulted in a greatly improved grade. I counted zero for cheating, (copying another student’s work or passing exam questions from one class to another). I graded on a percentage, and I was criticized one time for too many students acheiving an “A” grade. That time perhaps the standards were too low, but perhaps I had an exceptional class — I never was able to know the answer here, but the grades were allowed to stand as I gave them. And yes, I would have resigned before I allowed my grades to be changed.)
I was probably biased by students who participated but I did not have a method to give these students class credit.
And finally my wife noted that the first paper she turned in at her first job — she learned that a boss did not accept a “C” or a “B” paper. School had not prepared her for this so she had to learn on the job.

The only problem I could not solve was that I was paid solely on seniority and when layoffs had to be made, I lost the job on seniority. ( I was the sole computer science teacher, and the head soccer coach, senior class advisor and debate club advisor. I taught classes in the math and science departments. — this was an insult to the work I put in, and there was no way to change this system. The only thing fair was that I knew these rules when I joined.

Good insights. Thanks. I was in high school 1965-1969 and college 1969-1973. I never had any problems with my teacher’s grading approaches. They were what they were and I never even thought about questioning what they were doing. You learned how much each element counted (papers, exams, which were the big exams, homework, finals, class participation) the first day and that was that. You budgeted your time accordingly.

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