Monday, September 25, 2006

Beavis or Barbie


We will say Beavis or "Ken" so as to not make it a gender statement. If you have two students in your class Beavis and Ken both who acheive a 68% in your classroom and they need a 70% to qualify for the next course level (not grade level), and Beavis never turns in his homework, sluffs class, and is disruptive, and Ken always comes to class, always turns in his assignments and is respectful in class, do you pass either one of them? Studies show American teachers pass Ken, and fail Beavis. Is it fair? What complicates the issue is obviously to be acheiveing the same grades as Ken, Beavis has to be performing much higher on the exams. I went with the passing Ken and not passing Beavis, but is that just supporting "the system?" Or is that teaching responsbility and rewarding it? Pretty hot topic in class today. Opinions?

6 comments:

Panini said...

I pass the kid I like--what can I say . . .
I'm mindless and my sympathies work much better for people I think are worthwhile.
I think it's an interesting statement about the emotional components of grading.

Anonymous said...

Yeah. I probably lean that way too. I think school is a system and kids need to just learn to do what they need to do, like their homework ect. If they aren't asked to be responsible anywhere in their life what is going to happen in the real world?

Unknown said...

Oops, I don't know how I commented on my own blog as an anonymous.... LOL. Its been one of those weeks--you still alive too panini?

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, Beavis may just be one of those kids who is very intelligent and superbly bored with the school system. Sometimes these kids just aren't challenged at all and feel school is a waste of time. Ken probably has trouble with the actual material, Beavis with the motivation to perform in a system that teaches to the middle(or lower sometimes). Perhaps the system needs to change so that it can reach Ken and Beavis. (I know this is wishful thinking)
~Mother of a Beavis and a Ken

Unknown said...

I wish there was a way! Ideally all students would actively engaged in their own education, or the school system could find a way to keep everyone interested---If anyone has any good ideas let me know :)

Anonymous said...

I'm alive right now but it might not last long (I've pulled an average of 1.2 all-nighters every week since I got here) and that, of course, does not take into account all the 4 hour drags (like last night)

You know those "parent hotline" commerical the church puts out to show that parents need to be individual? Well, I want phone a friend -- I don't even care if they're real. Just a voice, I can talk to while I walk out to my car and drive to work--and on the way home (because those are the only possible times to talk to anyone) and I don't have time to make real friends (apparently (based on the number of people that think I'm worth acknowledging))
pete