Let me give you some constructive criticism…
2007
I’m in the home stretch now. As a teacher, I look forward to this time of the year. At the school at which I teach, seniors complete classes a full two weeks before graduation, although they take exams during that two week period. Underclassmen complete classes and exams on Friday, May 25th. Tomorrow, I will no longer have senior classes, which frees up three class periods for me. And to tell you the truth, when this time of the year arrives, I am ready for my seniors to be done! Teaching can be exhausting and difficult, and I have found it to be particular so this year.
That’s not to say I don’t enjoy teaching or enjoy my students. I enjoy both most of the time. Nevertheless, there are times when I wonder what the heck I’m doing. I sometimes wonder if I take the teaching gift God placed upon me for granted. Actually, I believe I take it for granted quite a bit.
And it’s at this time of the year that I wish I had an easier and faster way of assessing my students’ work. In fact, I’m actually thinking about a method that Professor Daniel J. Solove, associate professor of law at the George Washington University School of Law, presented in his “Guide to Grading Exams” at his blog Concurring Opinions. It looks to be efficient and effective at fairly arriving at the grade a student deserves for assignments (for those of you who’ve ever wondered how teachers and professors arrive at certain grades, this will give you a clue, sort of). It’s s-o-o-o-o tempting.
While I assess my students, then, I also give my students the opportunity to assess me as a teacher. I construct and give out course/teacher evaluations every few years just to see how I’m doing in different areas. I get nervous when I give them out, and usually wait until my exams are graded and final grades submitted so my students don’t worry about any perceived potential repercussions (even though they are anonymous and I wouldn’t consciously dig a student for giving me a bad evaluation!).
Our faculty was recently told that this year, all teachers are required to give our students “surveys” which students would complete to determine how well we’re doing as teachers. Each question had five responses; in general, they could bubble-in one response. While each teacher would be privy to his or her own surveys this year, next academic year those survey results go to the administration. I don’t have a problem with this. I think it’s a good thing to receive feedback from my students about their experiences in my classes. It helps me to reflect on my successes and failures throughout the year and hopefully make necessary changes.
Except when I get a “survey” with scathing responses!!!
One of my students placed a completed survey in my mailbox yesterday afternoon. I was surprised because I had not yet given the surveys to my students. My stomach churned as I read this anonymous student’s responses to the 19 questions provided. For example,
Question: The teacher is enthusiastic about the subject.
Response: Tend to disagreeQuestion: The teacher explains the material clearly.
Response: SeldomQuestion: The teacher treats students fairly.
Response: Tend to disagreeQuestion: The teacher respects students.
Response: Tend to agree
(I’m a little confused on this one in light of the previous question)Question: The tests in this course are…
Response: Too hardQuestion: The rate at which the teacher covers material is…
Response: Too slow
The entire completed survey had this sort of bitter bite. And it really put a damper on the rest of my afternoon. Why? Because this student went out of his or her way to obtain a blank survey from another teacher before I gave it to my own classes, filled it out, and placed it in my mailbox in the teacher’s lounge! This student went out of his or her way to voice displeasure in me. To express discontent in my class.
It hurt.
When I shared it with my husband, he tried to encourage me by saying, “But we know the truth.” When I thought about it, though, feelings of doubt and inadequacy rose up within me. All because a 17-year old kid railed me!
I handed out the surveys to my senior classes today, wondering how many more sourful surveys I would garner. Admittedly, I was a little anxious. Yes, I know I’m the adult, and maybe I shouldn’t have let it get to me so much. Nevertheless, I love teaching. I believed in my heart of hearts that my students could see that in me. I believed that I taught well some of the time. I believed that I was putting my gift to good use.
And so I get…
Question: The teacher is enthusiastic about the subject.
Response: Tend to agreeQuestion: The teacher explains the material clearly.
Response: UsuallyQuestion: The teacher treats students fairly.
Response: AgreeQuestion: The teacher respects students.
Response: AgreeQuestion: The tests in this course are…
Response: Too hardQuestion: The rate at which the teacher covers material is…
Response: Satisfactory
And so I breathe a sigh of relief, believing that it’s not all that bad. Yet, I can’t help thinking about the student who felt the need to respond first. Might the student have a bone to pick (after receiving a terrible grade on a test)? Probably. Does that fact make the student’s responses any less valid or relevant? I tend not to think so. I wish I knew who the student was so that I could have a candid discussion with him or her. It will probably never happen.
Nevertheless, that survey was a wake-up call for me. While the academic year will end right before Memorial Day and I’ll have ten weeks off (how great it is being a teacher – but the hardest work I’ve ever done!!!), it will be a time for me to reflect on my teaching skills, my area of expertise, my approach to students, and my curriculum to see what I will improve upon next academic year.
Scathing criticism – yes it was. And while a bit hurtful, it was helpful.
I know I am sometimes sensitive in this area, especially when it comes to my husband giving me advice or trying to teach me something. Yet, I know growth cannot be achieved in my life without it. How do you respond to “constructive criticism” from your wife, husband, friends, parents, co-workers, and/or those who make comments on your site you don’t agree with?
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Hey KWiz.
First of all, the fact that you were so bothered by what that 17-year-old student said is proof of how much you care. Good teachers care, which means they take crticism to heart. Sometimes too much. A bad teacher wouldn’t have even bothered to read the review. And as the son of a teacher, the grandson of a high school principal, the husband of a retired teacher whose mother is also a retired teacher, I think I have a pretty good read on teachers.
How do I respond to constructive criticism? Tell you the truth, the most honest answer would have to come from those who gave me the criticism, you know? I’d like to think I’m just great at receiving meaningful criticism, especially from those who I know have my best interest at heart, but I know myself well enough to know I can’t give the best answer to that one. One thing I will say is that I suspect I’m much more open to criticism that doesn’t get ugly or try to tear me down. The minute I see that, whatever the motivation, I instinctively shut down.
Yes, it’s funny how people can take out their anger or frustration on the wrong people.
Sometimes I look back at folks I’ve given a hard time and realize I was just fighting the power of God in them, not the person themselves!
But I love the teachers I’ve had.
In 10 or 20 years, those kids will realize how much you’ve changed their lives for the better.
Stay strong in Jesus,
Paula
I appreciate criticism but it can be hard to take. The worst for me is criticism of my writing skills. I actually purposely failed a writing course because of a rough review of a short story. I use a criticism sandwich. Positive, negative, positive it is much easier to swallow it when presented that way. When it comes to comments I post them and try to be polite while holding my ground. I would not want to read anonymous commentary from students as a teacher though, that must be tough.
Thank you Keith, for your honest response. And you’re probably right; the way we respond to criticism can probably best be attested by those who give it and stay around to see how you react!
Thank you, Paula, for your response. There are a couple of weeks left, and my strength most certainly must come from Jesus these days!
Hi Danielle!
I think that if I always knew who was giving me negative feedback, that would be worse than receiving anonymous comments. It’s tough any way you see it, as a teacher. Yet, that type of feedback can be helpful anyway.
Kwiz,
It’s obvious that you care about being a teacher and care about the feelings of your students. Perhaps it’s good to remember that you alone are not responsible for your students feelings. I believe the average report you got from your students is likely most accurate. If you wanted to ask your class openly to communicate with you above and beyond the current ‘form’ they are being asked to supply to you, you could offer to be available to discuss any concerns your students had in a one on one discussion privately. That might allow the ‘disgruntled’ student to come forward with his or her reasons to you in a safe atmosphere, just you and the student. Perhaps I am naive, but I like to believe that where trust is openly offered and encouraged, difficulties can be discussed. Although, I’m no expert on teenagers I think that sometimes they like to be asked their opinions even though they may not be full of wisdom and that simply being listened to without judgment or fear of repercussions could be helpful to their development.
My two cents…
I have gone through life with a teenage daughter. She has said many things that were hurtful to me and to others without realizing it. Sometimes teenagers just don’t have the life wisdom to understand fully what ails them or how to deal with situations they find difficult. It most often helped with her if I just listened without reacting or judging then allowed her to work through the problem by offering some feedback on her thoughts. I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Camille
Thank you Camille. I often wonder how I will react to the things my daughter says when she gets to those teenage years.
I do often ask my students how they’re feeling about what’s going on in my classes, my teaching, my reactions to them, at the same time getting them to ask questions of their own selves, their behavior, etc. Some responses and reactions I do understand. Some responses and reactions, though, are based on their own self-indulgent stances – that’s sort of the nature of this community. So I know I must keep things in perspective, understanding that their opinions and judgments can be valuable at times, but also understanding their own ways of judging the world have yet to be informed by “reality.”
I suppose now matter how good of a job we do, we can’t please everyone. Sometimes people are just cold and vindictive… it could have been over a test score, or any little thing to provoke an insecure kid that thinks the world is out to get them. I think you have a good perspective on the situation.