A recent post on the discussion forum Quora has restored a sliver of my faith in the education system. A student asked the question, "Is it okay for a teacher to use me as an example of what not to do?" And I don't think she received the answer she was looking for.
She claimed that she was a victim of harassment and wanted everyone to stop being so mean. But the people who responded, most of them one would assume are teachers, gave it to her straight and put in her place, and deservedly so.
I'm always amazed at the things students complain about these days, as I know I never would have had the temerity to speak to teachers or expect things of them in the way young people do today. I'm not even that old, yet when my teachers gave grades, there was no discussion. When my teachers told me I did something wrong, that was the law. It seems everything in a classroom today is up for debate. It's just the teacher's opinion what a student's grade should be, always open for adjustment if a complaint is forceful enough. It truly is a different world.
But I'm proud of those who replied to this youngster. They were honest and fair and unmoved by her whining, precisely as teachers should be. There's hope yet.
She claimed that she was a victim of harassment and wanted everyone to stop being so mean. But the people who responded, most of them one would assume are teachers, gave it to her straight and put in her place, and deservedly so.
I'm always amazed at the things students complain about these days, as I know I never would have had the temerity to speak to teachers or expect things of them in the way young people do today. I'm not even that old, yet when my teachers gave grades, there was no discussion. When my teachers told me I did something wrong, that was the law. It seems everything in a classroom today is up for debate. It's just the teacher's opinion what a student's grade should be, always open for adjustment if a complaint is forceful enough. It truly is a different world.
But I'm proud of those who replied to this youngster. They were honest and fair and unmoved by her whining, precisely as teachers should be. There's hope yet.