In Kristen Salazar’s article “Learning Abroad,” she discuses how it’s better for teachers to use numbers instead of student’s names while grading papers. I do agree that not using names on papers will kill all cruel biases. But when you take away a persons name you are viciously stealing their personality and credit for their ideas. How you write can express a lot about your personality, and will teach your teacher about you. One lonely obsolete number will show your teacher nothing about you, it means nothing. The message your so desperately trying to convey in your writing turns into number 33’s ideas, instead of Kirby’s idea. In this cold world our name is what defines us.
Yes, maybe not ALL biases are good, but sometimes they can be helpful. The rude girl who always stomps in 20 minutes late to class with an evil glare should be graded differently then everyone else. Why should she be on an equal playing field with everyone? Biases are a cold harsh reality of life, and some of the time are deserving. Biases are necessary in the classroom so students learn to be appropriate and respectful in all aspects. If your just one sad lonely number, you can cower behind hit. If you know your papers and tests are going under a number instead of your actual name, you can slack off. You can wander from class whenever you want without being penalized grading wise, the teacher can’t hold it over you.
Also, with killing our precious names you are killing the student teacher relationship. A teacher can no longer learn about his or her students through their work. And if the student teacher connection is lost, then all is lost. The class dwindles into nothing but tests and assignments. It disastrously loses the personalized learning, lectures, and one-on-one help. Our valued names aren’t something you can just take away that easily. The pros don’t outweigh the cons on this issue.
I thought your post was very nicely written. I agree that taking away someone's name can also take away his or her personality. Everyone has a different style of writing and want to be recognized for their work. However, you don't stand out from everyone else if you just put a number. Based on your post, I am thinking that you were trying to sound reasonable? Maybe persuasive?
ReplyDeleteI thought that you did a good job on expressing how you deserve the right to have your name and a relationship with the teacher instead of being a number. I would say that you are trying to be equal.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to guess that you're optimistic or ethical about the article. And I agree with the others, this piece is very nicely written.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for thinking my post was at least nicely written, but my voice was actually "depressed", which i clearly failed miserably at. I guess i'm too much of an upbeat person to write in that voice.
ReplyDeleteYeah, depressed would be a tough one. I can see it in retrospect for the last paragraph, but hindsight = 20/20. I think overall this has a fairly neutral rational voice.
ReplyDeleteI do like some of the arguments you make, although there's some repetition between the first and third paragraph.
PS. Personally, I try not to grade the 20 minute late girl differently, except when it comes to class participation. But as you say, perhaps my biases might get the best of me.