No Wool on My Eyes

Last Friday I taught the after school science classes that the third year students take in order to prepare for the BECE, the exam that will get them into senior high school.

The Headmaster/science teacher could not teach them, he was called away but gave me a mock exam and the answer sheet to go over with the students.  At the end of classes he showed up and as we talked, I was in a good mood and in my infinite wisdom agreed to help mark the exams.

I only had to do the first part, the multiple choice.  But in everyone I marked I got more and more angry, why was I doing this?  This is not my class, not my responsibility.

Today I ran into Headmaster again, I told him the exams were finished and could be picked up.  He said he had the key to the second part and would bring it by my house later.  I suggested that he could do the second part, because I did the first.  He said he will come to my house.

I had minutes to work up the lady balls to tell this man I was not going to mark his exams for him.

I came out with the exams, “Here you go!”

We argued for the next half hour.

I know I can be a push over.  I know I can be too nice, talked into things, walked on.  I know.

But this IS MY THING.  Teaching?  I know there.  I’ve been there, I’ve done that. 

We hit this problem from every single angle. 

This is the mock exam given by the District.  Headmaster says he cannot mark it fairly, he is biased because he wants to present his students better than they are.

He was surprised to hear that I would never, NEVER ask anyone to grade the tests of my students.  He wanted me to grade the written part.  It would take ages.  No.

I told him I understand the fear of not being a neutral grader, I do.  But he is a teacher, and he should be able to do it.  The answer is right, or it is wrong, you mark it that way and that is your job, your responsibility. 

He told me more about the district and he talked and talked and talked, trying to talk me into marking them  and every time I thought he had a point and almost gave in to his request, I looked at the stack of exams and thought about how I would simply never ask anyone to do my grading.

When he asked why I explained how if someone messed up marking the exams, it would reflect on me.  How when I grade exams, I see patterns, which questions most students missed, and what I need to cover again.  And how grading is no one’s responsibility but mine, and I simply would not put that on anyone else.

He said he wants an outside examiner and is using his resources.

He would never let someone who does not know science mark the papers.  He, he can mark English and Religion and History, but only people who know science can mark Science.  He cannot give the exams to anyone else to mark.

I told him its JHS science, and the person would have a key.  Everyone knows JHS science because everyone took it, and there is a key. 

I said I had Peace Corps reports I had to write and ADVANCE reports too, and I do not have the time.

“Oh, it is not urgent.  When will you be finished with your reports?”

I said a flat no, many times and at first it was hard, but the more we talked about it, the more I knew I was right and stared him down about it.

I understand the need for an outside examiner, I do.  I also see the need for a teacher who can grade fairly.  That is your job.

In the end he said “I want you to help me mark this.”

“I know you do.  I think you need to mark this.”

“Just help me.”

“I think you need to mark this.”

 I must say I am proud of myself for coming up with such a solution to this problem.

“Okay, I understand you do not think you can be a neutral grader.  But as a teacher, you need to be able to mark fairly.  You take these.  You mark them.  Bring them on Monday and I will go back and look at the way you marked them.  Then we will decide together if you are a fair marker.”

“Oh but that will take so long.  Maybe I will take two weeks to mark them and then you will take two weeks after that.  That is four weeks.”

“You said it is not urgent.  I think this is the best plan.”

More talk.

“I will not do this.”

More talk.

“I will not do this.”

More talk.

“We have talked too much about this.  I need to get back to my work.  Mark them by Monday and bring them to me."

“I just want you to help me mark them.”

“I did the first part.  You grade the written.”

“I will grade them, I want you to mark them.”

“You grade them.  You mark them.”

Talk talk.

“No.”

In the end he left with his exams. Score one for the girl who stands.