*---------Checkmate.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

1:05 PM

Disclaimer: This is solely my own personal view and I am not out to and am in no position to criticise any education system. (I am just a student). I just hope that improvements can be made. I feel that improvements can still be made even when one is already the best.
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Hello.

Since we are in the spirit of doing self-reflections (though its some time ago), I will do reflection paper 8 :)

Reflection Paper 8

Introduction
Something inspired me to write. Some teachers, not all, are just so biased. And I think this is the first time I was the victim of the biased teacher, instead being the one that gets the slight advantage over others. Now I clearly understand how others felt when teachers treated them unfairly.

When you are the one that teachers like, you will not have the slightest thought that because teachers like you, you have an edge over others. In fact, in lots of situation. Quality of homework, project grades and attendance.

I'll share with you a situation on atttendence (aeons years ago). Theres this situation at the last tutorial, one of the favourite pet student was not present and I think his attendance barely meet the minimum criteria and the teacher smartly said:" Since this is the last tutorial, I'll make easy for your life. For those who are late, I'll mark you all as present. However no exception for other classes. (He was hoping that his pet student would come and he can still mark him as present) But he didnt attend the tutorial at all, its a short one though. Ouch.!! Pain felt in the chest. But maybe, I said maybe, the teacher may mark his attendance. I dunno. But its possible.

What I have learnt
I have learnt from this semester that all teachers are bias. It is the degree of biasness that makes them different. It is acceptable for teachers to be slightly bias. They are humans with feelings and I clearly understand that, feelings may at times, interfere work.

Base on this learning point, as long as I have put in adequate effort in my work, I will be satisfied with myself. Though I value Grades much (Local universities only accept students with an average score of B+ for all subjects) and wish to get in a local U. I will just let it be. I can't influence my teachers. AND i wont bootlick and act friendly with them. Thats just so not me. My current grade is between a B and B+. So I will have to work very hard to get to B+.

I have also learnt to understand the feelings of students whom were biased against. The feeling is bad. You put in that much effort but you get meagre returns. Thats inequitable hence de-motivates them. Do you see I am applying the expectancy theory? Low P-O.

Questions that I have
What are some of the ways or controls schools put in place to minimise teachers' biasness? If current practices are ineffective, suggest.

Should the character of teachers be examined thoroughly before they are employed to "mould the future" of Singapore? And what are the ways to achieve accurate results?

Conclusion
In conclusion, I feel that cross checks/marking should be put in place to standardise grading. I know that examinations have a few levels of markers to ensure all students are fairly and appropraitely graded based on a single standard. However, projects are often left to a single teacher. Should we include a panel of teachers to grade students' project work? Some may find it time consuming, especially those doing the double work. However, think back, meritocracy is valued by the Singapore government. Is meritocracy valid when the schools' grading criteria are biased and unfair?