My student
headed immediately to her seat with that stiff and noticeable heaviness. I gave
her an 80 and I sensed that I have to do the ‘drill’ again. “Class..”, I waited
for them to tone down, “…if you think that you deserved more than what I’ve
given, please talk to me…”. This is just one of the ‘teacher’s drill’ that I try
to avoid as much as possible; giving grades comes next to grading their papers.
“If we have to adjust them because your scholarship depends on it…perhaps you
can talk to me so we can come up with a way to adjust it…although, you have to
invest extra hours on it”. I was consciously searching for a loophole in teaching ethics to
justify what I just said, to no avail. “I’m
so kind..”, I whispered to myself -
I wish that I was my instructor in college. I encountered heartless
teachers; teachers who will fail you because you were unlucky enough to be 'targeted' in their 'dart-grading system', or because your haircut simply irritates them, and I came to the conclusion that indeed, I am still ‘nice’.
What happened
with being contented with 75? I recalled that I even failed my Statistics
subject, dropped two other subjects because the teachers are "mean" (plus my
college-rock-and roll-habits and absences), and 80 is a depressing grade? Back
in our days, we celebrate 75 like how we celebrate birthdays. So what is it today? I decided to finish giving the rest of my class their good/bad
news before I resume my ‘lecture’.
“Grades are
just numbers”, I continued, trying to recall random lines in drunken debates I
had with college friends. “You know, I
can give you 98 or even 99, but can you justify it?” For three seconds, I let
them absorb what I said. Their puzzled looks hinted me to continue, “Let us say
you apply for work and they are impressed with your grades. They call you for
an interview, a demo of some sort. Can you do it with the standards of a
student who gets 99 as a grade? Most heads finally nodded to my relief; I don’t
know if I can continue with the lecture anymore. It is time for another ‘life-story’
telling (which may be inspiring to some, and annoying to...many). I can show you
my transcript tomorrow and you’ll laugh at it. It is not really a good sight to
see…But, I am surprisingly here as your teacher…why? Not because of the grades,
but experience, and not merely experience, but the skills you gain from it.
Before we graduate, most of us are tutoring already. It means that when we
graduate, may edge na kami. We get
excited in job hunting and before we know it, madami na pala kaming napagdaanan. I realized that I am already 25
years old.
“Sino ba kasi mga working students
dito? I’ll give
plus…direct to the grade”. Their eyes finally gleamed and six proudly raised their
hands. “I want certifications before I give it, and don’t ever think of
faking one because I’ll call your boss.” Who am I to talk that way anyway? With
all my past mistakes, I realized that it is all by duty as a mentor to
encourage righteousness even if I am far from being righteous.
We have yet
to dismiss our class after ten minutes but I decided to call it a day. I rushed
to the faculty room avoiding eyes to hide my suspicious ‘early arrival’. I
turned my laptop on, pulled my drawer and grabbed the thick yellow papers I
failed to grade a week ago. Being a teacher really demands most hours of your
life, especially the grading part. Two hours to prepare lessons, Five hours to
draw X-marks and ‘check’ marks, another hour to advice students – I let out the
usual sigh. Add your graduate school requirements and it usually and mysteriously forces one to
go 'sleeping' or go 'facebooking' instead. I was heading out of the school when I realized that irony. "Kamusta ka naman buhay-teacher hehe" , I reflected as I walked away from the building.
I hate most of my teachers, elem., h.s., college. most of them doesnt care of giving consideration... they dont even know why and what(what the hell is happening or what the hell had happened) why i was strange back then. most of it, i failed because they stick on their (my teachers) ideas and i have a different(even better or even the right one) idea from that of theirs... i make my suggestions yet everyone(including my classmates) prefer their old fashioned and usual settings and contented with what ever outcome would it made (even if their outcome is far from what it should be) without even questioning "what went wrong?"
ReplyDeletefor the first time i get in to my field of specialization, i am always being stand corrected by my colleagues when ever i do those old fashioned way thought by my teachers.
i am even encourage to do (explore) alternative ways to have thesame outcome as to what is to be expected.
now i am dreaming to become a teacher and go against the usual doings of my teachers before. i want my students to explore things beyond the usual, and give credit to what ever effort they exert. idi studyante ak, uray usto jay "outcome" ijay inpadas ko nga procedure, mistake kanu ta han ko sinurot jay procedure. di naggraduate-akon ta agrugi akon t trabahok, ada met gayam mistake ijay inted na nga procedure idi studyante ak paylang. sayang ketdi jay inbayad ko, isu pay nga nakabagsakak ijay usto nga inaramid ko.
only a few teachers nowadays can be called "wise" (never mind their intelligence) to consider looking for the procedure if it is right or to see to it if there are things to consider.
alot of teachers only look to their students as good as to what the numbers on their test papers are showing (sure da ba nga haan nga nagcheat dyay? edap).
what if they look at other students who has low grades? these students might be giving more effort than those with good grades. these teachers might just dont know, that these studs are striving for something as a reason for the poor scores they produce (malay mo self support gayam, napuyat t kakatrabaho d rabii tapnu ada pang tuition na).
am not a writer, and i have more to say, i just leave it as it is.
and mostly, I SALUTE THE AUTHOR. you must have bad experience from your teachers before, and must be even worst than what i had.
to you students, dont be afraid of failing, take it as a challenge, your employer will be disappointed with you having high grades in your more ignorant performance.
i suggest you teachers to watch the movie "THREE IDIOTS"
That is true resident. Teachers can also be lazy to grade, so can it be a reliable basis for one's worth? We don't think so. Thanks!
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