Split the Grading Difference

Type: Article
Topics: Ethics, School Administrator Magazine

February 01, 2020

Ethical Educator
Scenario:
Cartoon depicting a graded paper that says

The 9th-grade English teacher at the district’s high school has a policy of lowering any late assignments by a full letter grade.

One student discovers at midyear that a paper of his has suffered this penalty. The student is certain he submitted the paper, and peers say they saw him deliver it on time.

The teacher acknowledges “the possibility of human error on either side” and decides to “split the difference,” lowering the grade by half the usual amount, to a B-minus instead of a C.

Is this a fair resolution, and is the teacher’s policy appropriate?

This Content is Exclusive to Members

AASA Member? Login to Access the Full Resource

Not a Member? Join Now | Learn More About Membership

Advertisement

Advertisement


Advertisement

Advertisement