Recently, our little Snowflake had to do a project for school on Opossums. The instructions included a written portion in which he was to pick out a few facts about the animal from two sources. One of the facts he included was that the female opossum has twelve nipples. I wrote about it here. In context, he also included the fact that the female opossum can have up to 20 children.
Skip ahead to today when Dominic received his graded report back with a note tagged specifically to that fact that said, “Is this the best fact you could find?” His grade had been knocked down to a B- (with an actual written threat of a C!!!) because of a missing paper clip (fell out in his back pack), the inclusion of and EXTRA sentence stating where the facts came from AND the FACT about a nipple.
It should be noted that our little Snowflake read a book on the subject and an online source, then chose the facts he wanted to include in the report ALL BY HIMSELF. We did not correct him because it’s his report and that statement was a FACT. I didn’t read any instructions on finding the “best” fact. What is the “best” fact about opossums, anyway?
Am I the only person that finds this completely ridiculous and completely unreasonable? What kind of example do you set as a TEACHER if you tell children to pick the “best” facts and disregard the rest? Finally, HOW THE HELL ARE OPOSSUM NIPPLES DIRTY OR ILLICIT (which is ultimately what it boils down to in his teachers mind)?
Does anyone want to weigh-in on this one? I am prepared to stomp into the teachers office tomorrow and complain in capital letters. OK, maybe just a letter. We wouldn't want to completely embarrass our little Snowflake.
Monday, November 9, 2009
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3 comments:
Are you kidding me? I wish I could fly out and STOMP right in there with you!
Did the teacher have a shortage of paper clips? How does it happen that a paper can be graded down for such a stupid reason? Especially since she didn't even bother to question that it might have come off and obviously didn't look in the backpack. I didn't realize that paper clip usage was a graded subject. I'm pretty sure she knows how to use one and I'm pretty sure she has some in her desk. That is ridiculous.
As far as the content goes she asked them to find and report on facts that they found from two sources, which he accomplished. I, myself, found it pretty interesting that a possum mother has twelve nipples when I read it in your blog the other day. Most mammals have only half that amount or less. Since he included the fact that they have up to 20 babies, it was relevant. And, besides that, who is she to dictate which facts are pertinent to a child his age. I took the part where she asked, "is this the best fact you could find" as in insult to his ability to determine a fact that is worthy of note, without regard to his age and grade level. Bottom line is that a fact is a fact. If she wanted specific facts she should just tell the kids which ones she finds "best", not have the kids tell her and then tell the kids their facts are not valid. How completely frustrating. Teaching is about guiding children to learn and grow, not brow beating them into thinking exactly alike or exactly like you. I think you should ask for a conference with the teacher and maybe the principal. I would. The paper clip thing needs to be addressed. I could understand the grading difference if this was high school and that was a requirement for grading, but come on...the kid is in what? second? third?
Did she even ask him if he had clipped it? Did she ask him when he turned it in, if maybe he lost the paper clip or it fell off in his backpack? Or did she just assume he didn't do it. ARgghhh...I just don't get it. I can't get that a grade would go down because of something so insignificant. It's just wrong.
Hey, I came back because I read the first post about the opossums!
Let her have it! (in a nice way, of course).
Sari, welcome back! This issue has been a huge source of frustration for me this week.
Now I just want to find ways to stick the words "possum nipples" into all of his homework.
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