I read this here and think it worth reposting for you.
This one may be hard to accept, but you shouldn’t assume that because your child makes straight A’s that he/she is getting a good education. The truth is, a lot of times it’s the bad teachers who give the easiest grades, because they know by giving good grades everyone will leave them alone. Parents will say, "My child has a great teacher! He made all A’s this year!"
Wow. Come on now. In all honesty, it’s usually the best teachers who are giving the lowest grades, because they are raising expectations. Yet, when your children receive low scores you want to complain and head to the principal’s office.
Please, take a step back and get a good look at the landscape. Before you challenge those low grades you feel the teacher has "given" your child, you might need to realize your child "earned" those grades and that the teacher you are complaining about is actually the one that is providing the best education.
I’ve seen this a bit at our boys ‘ middle school. I’d quickly trade the grade for the education.
A former student wrote me last week and said this:
I still remember a certain Land and Bible site paper on [site name redacted] that received an 83 when I thought it was a "for sure" A (which is what [teacher’s name redacted] told me he would have given me after proofreading it). To a large degree – I credit the feeling that I felt after reading that grade (angst) with my desire to become a better writer – it was a watershed moment in my development as a student and writer. So thanks for giving me a B- !
Challenging teachers out there, be encouraged!
Thanks for the encouragement! I’m not THE hardest teacher…but I don’t always give easy A’s. It is hard, though when parents EXPECT their children to do well (read: they’ve alway done well in the past, so why is this year any different), but then they don’t do as well in my class. I will admit, though that the temptation (and the giving in to that temptation) to just give an “easy” A, is very real. The temptation to want to be “liked” is very real, too. And sometimes the fight occurs within my brain whether or not to be merciful, or gracious, or, to just given them what they’ve truly earned. Finding that line and the right timing for that line requires much help and wisdom from God.
P.S. Reading what your former student wrote, resounded with in the echoes of my own experience with [teacher ‘s name redacted] :). [teacher ‘s name redacted] made me desire to BECOME a (decent & proficient) writer, as well. ;)
Ilena – the temptations you describe have been very real to me. I think you nailed it with your last line: “Finding that line and the right timing for that line requires much help and wisdom from God.” Sometimes grace is best. I’ve received better grades than I earned and those were instrumental in my growth as well.
Thanks, Todd. These words are an encouragement to me as I struggle, daily, of how and when to extend grace to my students. I too have been extended grace many times, and it reminds me that God’s grace leads us to repentance. This is what I pray that my students will see & know & love. :)