Teachers, how hard is it for you to resist the urge to give better marks to students you like and worse marks?

Question

to students you don't. (on evaluations with at least a subjective element) Or do you even try?

Answer 1

It's very easy for me to resist doing this, because I think that our profession should be honorable. We have the honor of shaping the next generation...young and impressionable minds.

I think it's a shame when I hear that a student doesn't have a chance to get a high mark, because the teacher has already judged him/her within the FIRST DAYS of the class.


I think that we must be good examples of justice to the students that we teach, and when we give good marks for good work... without bias, then we have achieved our goals as teachers.

Answer 2

Honestly, this is not a big problem for most teachers. At some point early on in teaching, the dilemma of submitting grades based on personal relationships comes up regularly, and a good teacher will just look at the work submitted.
Of course, a teacher has every right to adjust grades based on in-class performance which may include bad behavior or attitude. Part of being a good student is conducting oneself in a professional manner.

Answer 3

There is something in psychology know as the halo effect and the hawthorne effect. Most teachers know about them, and try to use them in a good way to benefit students. Most teachers do not intentionally give better marks to students they like, but we are all human. The important thing is that we try to be objective.

Answer 4

I'd have a "participation" grade to use for the little sh!ts in class. That way you can still grade their papers on the work they do, but punish the punks who can't act responsible.

Answer 5

I try and follow the rubrics I have..there is subjectivity but it is based on how hard they try not if I like them or not.

Answer 6

not hard at all...I teach math...and you are either right or wrong, nothing else comes into play