Students grading papers

[Guest Juvydriver]

New York Times Article

 

This article talks about a Supreme court case brought by an Oklahoma woman regarding the practice of letting students grade quizzes and other homework items.  She is claiming that this practice violates a 1974 privacy act.

 

I was just curious to hear the opinions of you guys on this subject.  I remember doing this in grade school and never thought much of it.  I actually appreciated the fact that the students were usually a little easier on me than the teacher  =).

 

Of course, the teachers I had always recorded the grades on their own without having them called out in class.

 

Juvy

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

When I was in high school there was one science teacher, Mr. Brown, that had his students grade each the test papers of their fellow classmates. Of course, all the students would change the wrong answers and most grades were As or high Bs. Unfortunately, I had the other science teacher that was in Vietnam and who had flashbacks during class! Anyway, one day some girl ratted the aforementioned practice out to Mr. Brown and that was the end of that. Needless to say, this girl never won a homecoming contest.

 

The plantiff in this Supreme Court case was probably worried that little Johnny's self-esteem was hurt because his classmates knew what a dumb@ss he was. Nothing more. Personally, I care more about the fact that some teachers cannot flunk students for plagiarism, but that's another story for another time.

[Guest Choken One]

I find it ridiculous these days and age, parents are still looking to blame someone or something else for thier own failures.

 

  Student Grading Papers has always been a standard pratice,  I did it, My wife did it, my parents did it...Don't schools have ID number's today...instead of Writing THE NAMEs down...why not just write the id and grade next to it and no one knows who has what.

[Guest Ripper]

Alot of times, the teacher just says give the paper to the person next to you.  I kind of agree with this a little.  I mean, dumb kids could be very embarassed letting the others know how stupid they REALLY are.

[Guest teke184]

I went to private school and it was an accepted practice for most simple quizzes (short answer or multiple choice) to be graded by fellow students.  We'd either pass papers forward or back one desk or hand them to the teacher who would randomly hand them back.

 

And as for the privacy thing, I think that this is taking it a bit too far.  Privacy on tests, semester exams, quarter grades, and semester grades are legitimate concerns.  Privacy on quizzes is just plain stupid unless they make up a huge portion of the student's grade.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

I wonder if a parent is ever going to sue a school because their child's self-esteem was torn apart because he/she was the only student in a class not to hand in homework? I'm sure someone, somewhere would view forcing students to complete lessons at home some sort of privacy violation...

[Guest DrTom]

We did this all the time when I was in middle school.  Other students were more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt, and teachers rarely re-corrected the quizzes and tests.  In fact, I can't think of a single one of my teachers from grades 4-8 who didn't use this practice at some point.

 

The lawsuit goes to show the lows some people will sink to in their efforts to shift the blame, though.

[Guest mayhem25]

When I was in highschool way back when, all of one year ago I remmember grading peoples papers.  It was always the same, if it was a friend of yours you help them out.  But if they were an ass or slut you might have to mark them down a bit.  Anyways I was always to high to care if anybody knew my grades, I was more concerned with the finer things.  Such as girls, basketball and of course snickers.

 

Also kids grading papers gives the teachers a break with all those papers they grade.  And for me I would rather a teacher have plenty of time grading a mome important paper than just a little quiz.  

 

My 2 cents

[Guest TUS_02]

This is funny because this subject was brought up in my journalism class the other day.  My professor said that it's a Federal Law that you're not allowed to let students grade other students.  The reason being that it's illegal for anyone besides the teacher and the graded student to see the grade (unless of course, the student shows off his grade afterwards)  Take that as you will.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

I assume your talking about university tus, in which case you are correct. For instance, a parent can't call a university and find out what their kid's grades are, it's confidential. On the other hand, students can grade papers if they are TAs, but then you sign a similar agreement to a teacher, and so those people have to keep it confidential as well.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

"For instance, a parent can't call a university and find out what their kid's grades are, it's confidential."

 

I have always had a problem with this confidential policy. Personally, I feel whoever is footing the bill for tuition (parents, family member, etc.) should get to see the grades. I keep hearing how education is such an "investment." If it is indeed an investment, then the people who put up the dough should be able to track how it's going, much like an investment in the Real World is treated.

 

This post is off-topic, but it has always struck a nerve w/ me.

[Guest J*ingus]

If it is indeed an investment, then the people who put up the dough should be able to track how it's going, much like an investment in the Real World is treated.

 

Would mentioned Enron here be a bad idea?  

 

In my house it was never a matter of argument anyway.  The college always mailed a transcript home, and unless I somehow intercepted it at the mailbox, the parents always opened it and read it.  (Technically illegal, sure, but just try to tell that to my mother.)

[Guest MRFTW]

I don't think it's a violation of privacy but it's bullshit none the less. Sure it's fine if you get someone who doesn't care either way and grades your paper fairly and it's cool if you get a friend to grade it and they help you out but it sucks ass if you get someone who doesn't like you so they fuck you over and i've actually had that happen to me befor.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

"Would mentioned Enron here be a bad idea?"

 

Yes it would. Unless the profs misled the party who's providing the money by sending A/B grades when the student actually failed the course.