Skip to main content

Of Marks and Misery

I just had another student coming in, asking to change his marks...

Just 5 more marks for an A-....
Just 5 more marks, so the Saudi Government will not take away my scholarship...
Just 5 more marks so that I can continue to support my brother who is also studying...

The thing is... I liked this chap.

He came to class, did his assignments, scored very high for his coursework...but did badly in his finals...
He came, but didn't beg... Didn't snivel... Didn't cry...

Totally different from the guy who came here last week.

I just wish there was some legitimate way I could help him... 
But 5 marks is still 5 marks.
If I give it to him, where would be my integrity? My trustworthiness?  My honour? 

If I don't have these... Then who am I?
Labels:

Comments

Percicilan said…
Find it to justify good contents or good style... all these are subjective so if you think mercifully that they legitimately worth a second look, by all means give it to him. Style and contents are subjective kan..

I would give the 5 marks for attitude and attendance if all else fails.
May 20, 2009 at 1:30 AM
Anonymous said…
Cikgu,

I'm in an academic course where attendance, assignments and everything else is not taken into account. All that matters is our exam grades; and we don't even know who marks our papers actually. It's difficult for me to symphatise. More me a pass is a pass and a fail is a fail. Government loan and all.

Ed
May 20, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Anonymous said…
As an educator, we have the difficult task of living integrity. Both husband and I have been in this situation, and trust me.... in the end, it is better to give him the five marks, because we never know, what doors close on him just because of these five marks.

I would design some extra credit work.
May 24, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Abdullah said…
CC,
After all is said and done, when it comes to language, we know exactly where a student is at... I tried to increase all other marks, but it just wasn't enough.

He is now on his way back to Saudi..

Ed,
I would agree with you on this one. During my time most of us concur with the marks we got..we would know whether we deserved them or not, and if we didn't we wouldn't make a show of trying to make the lecturer change them (though we would as them to show leniency, but this rarely worked).
At the end of the day, a pass is a pass, and a fail is a fail.
May 25, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Abdullah said…
Ailin... I can't believe to see you here again! it's been ages... how have you been?

Like I indicated earlier, designing extra coursework for extra credit cannot compensate for giving an A to someone not deserving, because we are talking about language skills... One would question the grade if he shows up one fine day at the workplace and it becomes evidently clear the language skills are not up to par...

I was a difficult call to make.

I pray I do not have to make them too many times in my career.
May 25, 2009 at 2:35 PM
SITI SHEIKH-DERAMAN said…
WUHOOOOO.the joy of being an educator....banyak pahala ni
June 14, 2009 at 1:10 AM
Greg Wee said…
good decision. stick to your guns.
June 18, 2009 at 3:18 AM
Anonymous said…
If I don't have these... Then who am I?

Yep! Just plain Dollah.

Hello, why so long no update??



Eyes of Tenggara
June 19, 2009 at 2:58 AM
Gukita said…
Bang... integrity is what makes you a YOU.. Dont lose yourself.
June 23, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Permission to Come Aboard...

Picture credit here

"Atteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen-shun!"

31 bodies in immaculate white uniforms snapped smartly to attention, sitting rigidly in their seats. 29 cadets with faces unsure of how this person standing in front of them would be - strict, rigid, disciplined?... or relaxed, easy-going, and a slacker for the rules? The 2 officers among them looked cool and unaffected.

I walked briskly but surely to the table at the front of the room, put my things down, and faced the class.

The cadet-in-charge for the day got up from her seat and walked smartly in my direction. Upon reaching the spot exactly half a metre from me she halted and snapped to attention.

"Assalamualaikum sir!" She said in a clear, clipped voice. "29 cadets and 2 officers reporting for duty, requesting permission to carry on, sir!"

As if by imprinted on a cellular level, my body responded almost automatically through half-remembered gestures and nuances.I was transported to anothe…
23 comments
Read more

Aku, Bini dan Ginger Beer

Aku haus...

Tekakku yang kering ini menginginkan rasanya yang menenangkan jiwa itu...

Perasaannya apabila ku menggenggam botol kacanya yang sejuk dan berwap-wap dan mengangkatnya keluar peti ais kecilku, perasaannya seperti seorang kanak-kanak Taman Keramat memegang aiskrim Malaysia 10sen pada hari yang panas membara...

Riang... Nikmat... Penantian yang menyiksakan, tetapi penantian yang lazat...

Dengan pergerakan yang perlahan seperti 'slow-motion' dalam sinetron Indonesia kegemaran surirumah-surirumah di Malaysia, muncung botol Ginger Beer kegemaranku mampir bibirku yang terketar-ketar sedikit, sehinggalah aku dapat rasa cecair yang sejuk membasahi tekakku...

Nikmat...

Sedap tidak terperi...

Aku menghulurkan kepada biniku, dan dia juga meneguk kenikmatan...

Aku menadah tangan meminta kembali Ginger Beer kesayanganku yang berjenama Bundaberg buatan New Zealand.

Saat itu tidak tiba-tiba...

Aku tertanya-tanya... Mata terkebil-kebil...

"Ni saya punya ya Bang..." ujar …
13 comments
Read more

The Ones That Got Away : The sign

I couldn't believe it!

I actually managed to pass my Chemistry Finals!!! All the blood, sweat and tears that went into trying to understand my most hated subject finally paid off...
I held the result slip in my hand, not daring to let go... As if letting go would mean that I would let go of the pass that I had obtained.

I smiled.

We both knew we would finally be where we dreamed of the entire time we were in school... University. That magical place where dreams would be made into reality. That place where we could become all that we wanted to become... To start our journeys into adulthood, into the real world.

And so when we got our offer letters, it was with mixed feelings that I said goodbye to her... Part of me was sad because it meant going our separate ways, but part of me was excited to start a new chapter in my life... I guess it didn't make a difference back then, because I knew that in my heart of hearts, we would be together in the end, no matter how long or winding the r…
27 comments
Read more