At least that is the conclusion I have been forced to accept. It seems that I fail students who do all their work, are never late and work hard. At least that is their story and they are sticking to it.
I must be evil.
When you compare my stand to the school district I work in, I qualify. The official policy is that they can fail two core classes on their final report and still walk in promotion. This is a district that believes in high standards and rigor. As one parent screamed, “What are they trying to teach these kids, that they can do nothing and be successful?” I told her she was preaching to the choir.
I care about my students but I care about their future chance of a productive life. I am not overly concerned about how they feel about me in eighth grade. I hope they will live to thank me but I am not holding my breath. I am just one little tinkle in a symphony of self-esteem self-destruction. I am afraid that by the time they wake up to reality they will be living in a hovel and dependent on the nanny state.
So I must continue living with myself as an evil person. I can deal with it. I am not sure they will be able to.
homo unius libri
SOMEBODY has to do it.
ReplyDeleteAnother illustration I use is the little boy with his finger in the dike.
DeleteGrace and peace.