Reader Responses

After serving as a teacher and even longer as a principal in the state of Texas, I can assure you there is plenty wrong with grading.

First there are the “kooks” who devise there own grading schemes that even Einstein could not figure out. Then there are the ones that are flat out unfair. I took a graduate course and scored a 98 and ended up with a B because someone needed an A to get grandfathered into the old program of certifing principals instead of the new one that had more stringent requirements which included 36 extra hours. I lost.

Then there is a problem of over-grading in 1st grade. My, how new teachers love their little children. They pass them on to second grade without having learned the fundamentals or essential elements in 1st grade, so you have 2nd grade teachers teaching 1st and 2nd grade reading.

Dallas ISD cannot draw up enough rules to make sure of the same outcome. These harebrained schemes have no merit and just exacerbate the problem of teaching and evaluating, In HS some grades are given out of fear, favoritism, and athleticism. (More than one coach has visited an English or math teacher to twist an arm so to speak).

The teachers should be angry. It is tough being a teacher and it is tough being a principal and getting every one on the same page. Essential elements on every subject at every grade and a way to test proficiency is the only way to fairly grade. Homework should count for very little if anything. Much of it is done by parents and siblings and dogs eat up a lot of it.

Jack O. Ludwick
Tyler