Samson
Póg Mo Thóin
So you do NOT think making students feel good is a good idea?
In my experience, this is all well-and-good, in theory.
In practice, this recipe of "Stated Attainable Goals, Teaching Well, and Testing Fully" is frought with "grey area," even given the simplest "goal" where you'd think it would work.
Take the simplest task: 2 + 2 = ? Give this ONE question to a class of Thirty 6th graders.
How many will fail to get the correct answer because they rushed and read 2 + 3?
How many just didn't feel like taking your stupid test, and wrote "Fuck You" at the top of the test?
How many just forgot to put their name on the completed test?
How many fell asleep during the test, and refused to wake up?
How many have simply forgotten what you taught, and believe 2 + 2 = 5?
How many were on drugs during the test, and answered 2 + 2 = pink unicorns?
Now, now, that is not what I said. It depends on, as a famous Democrat once said, 'what the meaning of the word is is." Does feel good mean giving an A when the work is D? Does it mean saying, 'well, at least you did your best...'?
Nonsense.
State attainable goals, teach well, and test fully. The grade is the 'feel good' goal.
Further, publish the student grades, and publish the grades associated with the teacher as well.
If the same teacher constantly has failing student, the message will be clear.
In my experience, this is all well-and-good, in theory.
In practice, this recipe of "Stated Attainable Goals, Teaching Well, and Testing Fully" is frought with "grey area," even given the simplest "goal" where you'd think it would work.
Take the simplest task: 2 + 2 = ? Give this ONE question to a class of Thirty 6th graders.
How many will fail to get the correct answer because they rushed and read 2 + 3?
How many just didn't feel like taking your stupid test, and wrote "Fuck You" at the top of the test?
How many just forgot to put their name on the completed test?
How many fell asleep during the test, and refused to wake up?
How many have simply forgotten what you taught, and believe 2 + 2 = 5?
How many were on drugs during the test, and answered 2 + 2 = pink unicorns?