I am a teacher, have been for a decade. There is an ever increasing plague in the classroom-- the A-seeking student that believes that anything less than an A is a failure. Better yet, or actually even worse, too often they believe that they deserve an A just by showing up. Why is this change so invasive?
2006-09-17 06:44:01 · 9 answers · asked by phdamy 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
Speaking as a former "A-seeking" student, an A means to me that I have mastered the subject and that I have won first place, a B or lower means that I have not accomplished my goal, that I have lost. There is no second place for those of us with high goals, there is only winning or losing. As far as those who think, they deserve an A just for showing up, I have yet to understand why people think they deserve something in life they did not earn...
2006-09-17 06:55:42 · answer #1 · answered by Thomas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to ditto what others have said, I was also one of those A-seeking students, and I would get upset (with myself) if I didn't get an A. For me, it was because an A was the best possible grade, and if it was possible I was going to do it. My parents were actually kind of laid back about grades - they would tell me that my grades didn't matter so long as I did my best. I was of the mindset that all students were equally bright (more or less), and so everyone was capable of getting A's, so of course I must get A's. In fact I usually got B's in english, and to this day I am convinced that I suck at english.
Now as for students who think they deserve an A for just showing up, that baffles me. Perhaps it's a side-effect of the idea that we have to fluff up kid's self-esteem. As a college professor, I can guarantee that that attitude won't fly in college, and any school or teacher that encourages that mentality is doing the students a severe disservice. I hope you are able to stand your ground (i.e., I hope your principal backs you up) against that sort of thinking!
2006-09-17 22:20:33 · answer #2 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an instructor, I really appreciate the A-seeking students. I teach Adult learners. As far as an A just for showing up, I don't see a lot of that. I do find that the A-seekers have a tendency to try harder in my class and I think that they get a lot more out of it. The students that "just want to pass" don't really do it for me. They don't really try, they only do what they have to to get by and it annoys me. If someone is paying good money for them to go to school, I think they should put forth their best effort. My opinion is, that students should do the best they can. If they are capable of A's, they shouldn't expect anything lower. If they are not capable, they should still do the best they can. Thanks for the question.
2006-09-17 16:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by Donna P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because kids see the high achieving students always getting A's and they feel like they have to also. There is a lot more pressure from parents now a days to always have to be the best at everything; school, sports, just about everything. About kids thinking they should get an A for just showing up, I think that is just plain laziness. It frustrates me too!
2006-09-17 14:19:22 · answer #4 · answered by horseluver1210 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As you can se above - that's the rat race! The pressure of their parents, other students, the vision of the future.. They know that each note lower than A makes them distanced from success. Pity, but that's the truth. Competition. Like in a jungle...
2006-09-17 14:11:30 · answer #5 · answered by Lady G. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an "A-seeking" student and I set my standards high for myself. I strive to get an "A", so anything under my standards, I feel as though I failed myself by being lazy or not giving 1025%.
2006-09-17 14:00:26 · answer #6 · answered by Mimi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know I'm capable of getting an A, so I AM failing if I get a lesser mark. Usually I'm failing myself though- if I get a bad mark it's usually because I didn't do the work as well as I could have.
2006-09-17 20:04:24 · answer #7 · answered by Jetgirly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because alot of parents say that A's are all they will except from them and anything lower is unaccepted and bad.
2006-09-17 13:51:41 · answer #8 · answered by a rose with black ribbon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not think so. Most people expect Bs, I rarely see what yous are talking about.
2006-09-17 13:46:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋