A dilemma...
I was watching 'Ed' last night, and the episode was about this bright kid, who's always top of his class, always an A student, but isn't so good when it comes to sports. His gym teacher warns him that he's getting a D if he doesn't do too well on his fitness test.
Now the controversy and arguments throughout the episode was about whether a gym teacher had a right to ruin such a bright student's career by giving him a D, thus losing his chance for a scholarship, or whether this teacher has every right, just like any other teacher, to grade his students according to their score, and not their effort.
This is, look at this scenario. You have two students in Math's class. Both work just as hard, but the only difference is that one is really smart while the other isn't so, and in this case, the smart one scores better in the test, despite the fact that both put just as much effort. Can't the same rule be applied to gym class? Two students put a lot of effort, but that with the proper ability would score better. Isn't it only fair? Or is gym class considered to be less important than other subjects? Like here in Oman, P.E is never part of the overall score, so no matter how low you get, it won't affect your overall average, but art did!
Makes you wonder doesn't it? Like you might have this student, who isn't the top of his class, barely passes his exams, but is a start in lets say, football. But he gets banned from playing the big game that might have given him a scholarship to college because he failed his English test, so he loses his chance, and ends up with no college diploma..
Big dilemma if you ask me!
Posted by Noors at 12:51 PM
5 Comments
somehow I don't see the dilemma..
two students. obviously one's brighter than the other. then the one who isn't bright in it, should put double the effort to show that he's in for the challenge and not a 'mental wimp'..
example: einstein - he was the stupidest student in his school days. and yet look at what he became. he doubled his efforts and widened his horizon.
- thats my opinion. no one is obligated to agree.
I don't disagree with you, but I'm not talking about the student's attitude here, I'm wondering about the grading system, how some subjects get more attention than others.
Physical activity might be the key to some to go to college, while studying is the key to someone else, but what always come in between is getting 'overall' good grades, now how do you go about in that is what made me wonder
I saw the episode and wondered as well, though Ed's last argument helped me to make a conclusion. It's that if there is an exceptional case, then it should be treated as such. So all subjects including P.E are to be taken serious. But if there is a kid who is excellent in sports only or excellent in the other subjects then they should get an exception. Though of course there should be a formula of minimum requirements. That will depend on the next level as in the Universities need to accept such exceptions as well.
Well thats the problem with trying to summarise to the point where you only have one index number, like the GPA. Intead of having one number that summarises how 'good' we are, why not just forget averages and look at grades as they are? I mean someone rubbish at PE but excellent at biology is probably not going to struggle in a uni biology course because they dont know how to play football, right? And I'm sure Ronaldo doesnt need to bother knowing he difference between condensation and a titration, either...
i dont think they should grade the student based in effort .. they should ut an equal exam for every one .. amean if you want to get them to stadard level .. but am talking her about sceince subject .. regardign Gym , they could ( as you mentioned ) grade the student based on how much serios he is in learning and based in her / his general attitude ..
nice post ..
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