The week after finals, students contact instructors because the students did not receive the grades that they wanted.  This pattern is repeated across academia.

Sometimes, students try to “give” their extra points to friends so that the friends receive better grades.  At other times, students complain that bonus points should have been offered on projects.  Students may even argue that they should pass, despite missing 6 or 7 weeks of class, rather than two weeks worth of meetings.  Even though these are college classes, I hear of parents coming to see the department head because Sue or little Johnny earned a grade that was lower than what someone (the parent?) wanted.

Do students or parents have the right to receive or for the student to receive a passing grade in a class?   

It seems to me that, as an instructor, I should be accountable for giving students an opportunity to learn.  The student should be accountable for what he or she did with the opportunity. 

When students are given the grades they want, rather than the ones they earn, does this help students learn the subject?  Manage their time?  Deal with adversity and challenges? 

It seems to me that the answer is, “no.”  If students are given the grades they want, instead of those that they earn, they learn to complain, rather than to do the work.  Is that going to help us in the long (or short) term?

Filed by Coleen Davis at 8:22 pm under Achieving Goals, Tips for Students