This is the week that grades for first semester are due. The last of the semester exams were given on December 18th and grades were due on January 5th. After grades are entered in the computer and saved, the registrar prints a copy for each teacher for them to verify. The purpose of “grade verification” is to verify that the recorded grades are correct and complete. For example, every so often one of the grades on the printout is different from the grade in my grade book, usually because I entered it incorrectly. One student did not have a grade for her semester exam, even though she took it, because I missed her paper when I was entering them. The grade verification process allows me to correct these mistakes before they are stored in the main school computer. The process is necessary to insure that first semester report cards are correct. Some of my colleagues have perverted the process into something which is not only unfair to students, but will someday lead a student or parent to threaten legal action against the school and/or teacher.
Semester grades are determined by averaging two quarter grades and the semester exam. To do this the computer assigns number values to the letter grades, averages these number values, and assigns a semester grade based on a scale determined by the administration. The quarter grades count 2/5 each and the semester grade is counted as 1/5 of the final grade. The semester grades are very important to the student. They are the only grades reported on the student’s official transcript, and are used to calculate cumulative GPA and class rank. In my mind, it is a question of basic fairness and justice that these grades are assigned with complete objectivity. There is no excuse to use a subjective interpretation of scores to assign semester grades. Unfortunately this is exactly what some teachers in my building do.
During my preparation period yesterday I was in the faculty work room checking my grades with the computer. The language teacher across from me was doing the same, but I noticed that she was making corrections to many of the grades on her verification sheet. I asked if the computer had made that many mistakes on her grades, knowing I only had two corrections in five classes. She pointed out a student whose grade she had changed and told me that she had given him an “A” for first and second quarters and he had gotten a “B” on the semester exam. The computer had given him an “A” for his semester grade. “That won’t fly with me.” was her comment. “I changed it to an “A-.”
The computer assigns a value of 4.0 for each A and 3.0 for the B. Because of the 2/5, 2/5, 1/5 weighting, the computer takes 4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 3.0 = 19.0 and divides by 5. The resulting average is 3.8, which falls in the “A” range (4.3-3.7). She was seeing
A + A + B = A, and rejecting it because, from a subjective standpoint, it didn’t look right to her. Semester grades can not be assigned subjectively. Those of you who still think that she is correct might want to look at this situation again considering the weighting of the quarters and exam grades. When you do you will see that, A + A + A + A + B = A seems more fair. This is exactly why the administration set up the system so the computer assigns semester grades and teachers don’t! All it would take would be a savvy parent or student who noticed A,A, B on the report card for two classes with the student receiving an A in one and an A- in the other for the semester to begin a process that might lead to legal action. Especially if the grade reduction might effect scholarship eligibility or class rank.
You probably won't be surprised to find out that many of the teachers in the building who do the same thing, are in the English or Language Department. When I told this story to a friend from the Math Department I could see him cringe. This is what happens when the innumerate are in charge.
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