Son's Social-studies Assessment Sheet-
"Name a fruit which has one seed."
"Cary."
The teacher had marked it as incorrect, and I agreed with her. Wasn't 'mango' one of my son's favourite fruits? Why couldn't he write that instead of 'cary', whatever it may be.
But what was 'cary'? I tried the word is several ways, and got it on the third attempt- 'Cherry'. A cherry does have one seed. He has spelt it wrong, but deserved some marks for trying.
I suggested that to the teacher. "But the answer is mango", she told me.
There wasn't much left to say.
_____
A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.
18 comments:
Reminds me of many arguments (fruitless, need I add?) with my teachers regarding answers to which they expected only what was in the book, while I insisted on writing what I wanted to :) Thank God my son;s teachers arent the same. in fact, these chaps have a system where the spelling is not supposed to be important, and i wonder when they will actually start correcting them!
Too bad more teachers don't recognize creativity as an important aspect of education. That mango looks delicious!
Rayna - What an insightful Drabble about the way children think! I'm going to actually share this with my students. They need to learn that to teach, we need to understand the way children think. There is almost always more than one right answer...
Oh gosh...only one answer to a question?? That's why I always hated Math--there was only one answer. In English (and usually Social Studies!) you can argue a point of view. I think he gets extra credit points!
There are times to fight the system for your child's education (and the right to be creative is part of that) and times not to. I am in that process right now... It's hard to know what to do.
Oh brother. That would really make me angry. Especially because there are so many fruits with one seed.
CD
This kind of obstinacy is what strangles a kid's creativity! Plenty of fruits have only one seed: peaches, apricots, nectarines.
Thinking outside the box is too often stifled by teachers.
Oh, dear. Teachers with blinders on do more harm than good. Your son is a smart little guy, even if not yet the best speller!
For real? Is she suggesting there is only one fruit with one seed? I love teachers really I do, but something I don’t get them.
PS: I LOVE mango. And cherries.
This is where context would have been helpful for the child, don't you think? Like the "most popular one seeded fruit" perhaps? Teachers are never wrong, *cough*.
Hey, he still got it right! Stupid teacher. And what about a peach? Is that wrong too?
Hi there,
This post of yours prompted me to write one based on a similar experience. Thanks for the tip!
Hey, thanks for leaving a comment on my blog! Fast work, indeed! Hope you are doing OK on your 'rural mission'.
Cherry is also correct. What an uninspired teacher!! Ugh!
Hugs
SueAnn
uff ,...so silly teacher!:)she could have advised the child for spelling mistake;instead of telling that "mango "was the answer.I think she's living the 'fool's paradise:)
There are so many many fruits with a single seed. Sad to have a teacher who isn't willing to learn:(
If it had to be mango and mango alone, then some more characteristics would have to be given.Bah:(
@ Anu - my son's teacher is normally pretty good. Had he written cherry, she would have given it a tick, but she didn't understand what he had written, and perhaps didn't want to admit she was wrong.
@ kmckendry - precisely. Specially sicnce there isn't only one right answer.
@ Margot - that is such a honour, Margot. And yes, teachers need to understand the students before they can start teaching. It is a huge responsibility they have.
@ Elizabeth - I wouldnb't have minded if she had given him a mark for the right answer and then deducted one for the spelling mistake. But a unique answer is what I loved about Maths.
@ Danette - so true. His grades at this stage make no difference, so I didn't fight - to me, it is more important that she continue being ncie to my kid
@ Clarissa - absolutely.
@ Karen - I have to agree
@ Fiona - she just didn't want to admit she was wrong.
@ Ann - he does that at home, and is allowed to, so I guess he is good
@ Debra - luckily, my kid couldn't care abotu his grades, so wasn't upset
@ Holly - she seemed to be.
@ Carolyn - precisely. And even that has two answers.
@ Alex - of course it is.
@ rajk - and I liked your post too
@ slommler - totally
@ raji - absolutely.
@ dipali - like mentioning the colour of the flesh or at least specifying it is a summer fruit.
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