----- Original Message ----- From: sbshai - sbshai@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Telling it like it is Hello colleagues, I would like to propose a new poll on ETNI which asks teachers about their opinion of the tziun shnati. Let's be frank: Isn't this grade rather farcical? First, it is not an honest grade because we usually want (or are expected) to provide a "magen" for our students, which inherently suggests a largesse that may not be deserved. However, no matter how carefully we devise our system for determining this grade -- and regardless of the considerable pains we take to be fair -- it is inevitable that there will be disgruntled students, parents and/or administrators. (This is likely to be so even if we've stretched reality to the boundaries of fantasy!) Since students can retake the modules until they get one that's easy enough for them to do well on (and it's the highest grade that counts), I wish someone could explain why it's necessary to give a shnati mark at all; perhaps this should be an exclusive privilege for industrious students who are weak test-takers. Our effort is worthwhile for these students, at least. (Yes, I realize it can be problematic to decide who should be considered in this category!) What happens too often in the current situation is that the least worthy pupils work mightily (many for the first time in their student careers!) to wheedle a few more undeserved points out of their harried teachers. (I refer to this as shuk tziunim.) If this doesn't work, they can always try complaining to the mechanechet and/or the princiPAL that the teacher just doesn't like them. (The more candid ones will call it taking revenge!) As most of us know, this system unfortunately sometimes works in their favor. In too many schools, or so I have heard, teachers are encouraged to inflate grades. But as I anticipate a storm about to rage over my head, I'll stop right here! Pleasant (as possible) deliberating, Batya ----------------------------------------------- ** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org or - http://www.etni.org.il ** ** for help - ask@xxxxxxxx ** ** to post to this list - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** -----------------------------------------------