#ANGST

The BIAS grading system

I’ve heard different stories of college students when it comes to their grades. Right now, I’m afraid to post this one but I think this is the right time, a confession of a student will be revealed for the first time – the bias grading system of a college institution. This is the right time to pour out the sentiments of students that they’ve been keeping for a long time, an anger and disgust to an institution who promotes bias and unfair treatment in giving grades to students. I don’t know But some students can’t do anything about this because we are only a student and they are our instructor. “Ang inyong grado, naa sa tumoy sa akong ballpen.” – a popular quote of some instructors who are trying to scare college students.

The Grades

                I heard a story of a college student who studied in a popular college institution. When he was a first year, he didn’t know what the other side of that institution is. He keeps on studying on his first semester and exerts more effort on his favourite subjects and major subjects. If I will to grade that man hearing from his achievement at that time, I will give him 1.5 but it’s the contrary. That man received a 2.25 grade on his favourite subject which is Biology and only to find out, some of his classmates received a better grade than him which they didn’t deserve because they shut their mouth during recitations and some of them got low grade in quizzes, long tests and exams. It’s so unfair upon hearing this story because he got a grade of 2.25 which is something that he doesn’t deserve for. He cannot do anything because someone told him that he should keep his mouth shut because if he complains, his instructor will keep hatred and grudges towards him. All I know is that most of the instructors have the percentage in every different TERMS like Prelim, Mid-term and Final term which gives a great impact on your grade. Some of instructors really give a big weight on the Final term and this man really did his best and greatest effort throughout different terms but still, he received 2.25. In grading a student, some institutions use numbers like 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 up to 5 and some uses letters like A+,A- and etc. The mentioned grades have a corresponding percentage in its own degree. Some instructor also uses rubric for a fair and just of grading a student but there are some who really didn’t play their great role in grading.

Another terror college life, there’s also another story from a college students about grades. The end of semester is fast approaching and all of their requirements should be passed before the semester ends. All of them were busy on doing all those things; they had sleepless nights just to make all their requirements on the subject of English. When the deadline came, they passed all their requirements with enthusiasm because they’re excited for the sem-break but one of their classmates didn’t pass his requirements.  This man is good in writing compositions or any writing stuff but at the end of that semester, he received a flat 1 grade. It is so unfair for the part of all the students who passed their requirements and spend sleepless nights. He should receive an INC mark or INCOMPLTE but it’s the opposite. I don’t how the instructor graded that man but to think of it, he should really deserve an INC mark. They want to complain for it but they hold their temper and keep their mouth shut for they know that their instructor will hold grudges towards them.

This is a common problem of college students. They get grades which they don’t deserve though they really did their best shot. It’s so unfair for every college students that an instructor play a favouritism role towards to some college students. This is the reason why some students lower their self-esteem and will not exert more effort because he already knew how the instructor gives a grade. But fortunate to say, there are instructors also who really did their part in grades with equity and just. They really compute the grades of students conscientiously and that is the reason that I’m happy about. As my stand, favouritism and bias grading should be stop in some college institution and a freedom for expression of college students should be given more attention. Every college institution is not a Hogwarts or any school of wizards, it produces grades with evidences or basis not in magical way which we didn’t know how it came for a grade like that. We should stop this one, I know that college staff will get angry with me but please listen to our plea, the students don’t have a confidence to voice out for they already knew that some of the staff will keep grudges and will not understand the college students’ side. Let’s promote equity, fair and just in giving grades to the students!