The Assumption Game

Typically, I'm not one who gets super riled up over others opinions. But recently, there's been an abundance of over-active assumptions occurring on my Facebook newsfeed.


In high school, there was a song on YouTube called the assumption song. Essentially your brain would think a dirty word was going to be used. In reality the songwriter would change it up and use a clean word. It was called the assumption song because most people's brain would jump to the worst possible conclusion.


What does this have to do with Facebook?


Over the past few days, there have been plenty of statuses (stati?) about the amazing grades people received. Before I begin my rant, let me say congratulations. I know many people had far too much to juggle this semester. YOU KICKED COLLEGE'S BUTT AND TOOK IT'S NAME. 


Great job :)


One of my best friends called me Friday afternoon to brag about his C in Numerical Analysis. Considering I don't even know what the world Numerical Analysis is and I would probably receive an F, I yelled in excitement right along with him.



Now for my bitterness. For every status about people's achievements, there was a status about how grades do not belong on Facebook. And those people are right. Our grades belong in AppalNet, MyCat or whatever your university uses. Or on our parents fridge. My parents are too busy covering the fridge in my brothers' artwork to find a place for my grades. And that's awesome. Shoot, their artwork is far prettier than the BannerID screen.


And everyone is entitled to their opinion, as long as they're not playing the assumption game. I saw three or four posts from fellow educators about how negative posting grades is on Facebook to my future students. I just wonder how we're bridging that gap. 


Students should never think grades are everything.


I don't think my grades are everything. I worked 30 hours a weekend, babysat some nights, performed research, presented at three conferences, and passed my thesis while having 16 credit hours this semester. There were nights when grades were the last thing on my mind. Considering all I had on my plate this semester, all of my family and friends have been happy that I came out the other end of the tunnel.


I really dislike words being put in my mouth. There are people on social media accusing me of thinking that I will not appreciate my students who makes C's or D's. 


Students will work as hard as you want them to. 


My students at Central Wilkes came to understand what it is that Mrs. Rowe, Mrs. Collins, and I expected of them. No one ever walked away defeated after receiving a grade. You put into assignments what you get out of them. Most of my students were never surprised at the grades they received. They already knew after they turned in their work what grade they were likely to make. If they wanted to make A's, they knew that were going to have to put in more time and effort than some of their peers. 


So if any of my Facebook friends read my status about all A's and now think there's a special place in Hell for people like me, that's fine. 


In close, please never assume that I do not believe in my students. I truly do. I will never let a student have a sleepless night due to a grade. I will call home before there is an argument about another bad grade. We never know what students deal with when they are not at school.


I will happily tell my students about the C I made during the summer after my freshman year. When my significant other and partying with the servers became more important than my grades, it showed. Nothing has ever kicked my tail into gear quite like my first and only C. 


If you think I'm bragging about my grades, assume away. 


But we all know what assuming does.