Before a term ends, the university where I teach part-time conducts a student evaluation of their teachers.
I’ve always wondered about this system in private schools today. In UP (University of the Philippines) long ago, this was unheard of. It didn’t matter whether we hated our professor. Chances are, like a bad joke, we’d meet him again and again.
These evaluations may have something to do with: 1) promotion and 2) pay increase. But since I retired from the corporate world, both promotion and pay increase are no longer my currency.
So I don’t look at the numbers. Instead, I go down to the feedback and comments section. I need to know whether I succeeded in teaching my students to think critically and sensibly.
“I love the way she explains the lessons clearly." “She treats all students fairly." "She knows the subject matter well.” "She is very encouraging."
The above comments don’t count. They are the minimum requirements for a teacher.
But last term, I applauded when I read this satirical comment, “I plead (pretty please?) that she lowers her standards a little.”
I was sure it came from one of my exemplary students (the upper 3% of the class, the A-Team) and he wrote it facetiously. Those in this A-Team would knit their brows when the other 97% ramble in answering my questions.
The A-Team comes to class prepared, having researched and studied the lessons. All of them interact with me and each other, and they ask incisive questions.
When I started teaching decades ago, the percentage was in reverse: 97% was the A-Team. The 3% was inconsequential.
What happened?
It’s heartbreaking to read the latest PSA report: “Around 18.9 million Filipino junior and senior high school graduates are functionally illiterate; meaning, they cannot read and understand a simple story.”
Do we then “lower our standards a little?”
On the contrary, we should raise it!
The Bible emphasizes the pursuit of excellence and high standards. One verse reads:
“. . . whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8 ESV
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