Fridays…they are the day of the week when I am most idealistic about the mountains of work I will complete given two full free days at home. So here it is again – Friday. Hope springs eternal. Unfortunately, Sunday afternoons are when reality sinks in. It is then that I realize that I have only done about half the things on my extensive list.

Eternal optimism aside, this weekend really will be a grade-fest. The end of the semester is upon us and I have to do that which I do not entirely enjoy – assign final grades to my students. While I understand the importance of grading to the system, I am always pained a bit by the fact that the valuation of one’s worth is tied to a fairly limited series of letters. I do appreciate that grades do reflect things such as ability to meet course expectations and academic ability. Unfortunately, grades often do not reflect all the things that are important to success and being the soft-spot I am I hate that they create a label of sorts for students.

I was never an “A” monger during my many years as a student in classes (even though the majority of my grades were “A”s). I always rationalized that one “B” a semester was a sign of character. There are students though who are intensely focused on the letter grade earned and who become distraught at the thought of getting anything less than “A”. A college career of 4.0 while incredibly admirable (and notably sometimes necessary to future opportunities) should not cost one their peace of mind – at least according to me, the one who rationalized that a “B” is an indicator of character.

Alas, there are some students who struggle to get “C”s and are darn happy to get them. I must admit, those students – the ones who struggle for “C”s but just keep pushing forward, they are the ones I admire the most. Those are the students who can’t just sail through assignments. Those are the students who try twice as hard to even get the “C” and are so happy when they see incremental improvement. It is for these students that I wish I could find a grade measurement for heart.

If only there was a way to measure natural ability coupled with level of effort. An inverse relationship, wherein as the natural ability goes down the level of effort goes up, should be valued appropriately. Effort based on beginning capability should matter, but the way the system is set up it is difficult to grade that way.

I know both sides of this coin. I have been fortunate to not have to put as much effort in based on my ability, but one of my children was the type of student I talk about above – a student with great heart. When this child got an occasional “B” or a rare “A” it was often a testament to twice as much time and effort as others put in. Every baby step forward was treasured and every grade beyond a “C” was a noteworthy accomplishment. The process was one of great heart and it left a lasting impression on me that resulted in my ability to see this type of student through a clearer lens.

Sometimes a “C” doesn’t stand for average. Sometimes a “C” stands for congratulations for continuing to make the effort day-in and day-out even when it doesn’t come easy. Sometimes a “C” stands for continued forward movement. Sometimes a “C” is an accomplishment in-and-of itself.

Perhaps next semester I will find a way to measure heart…for now, all I can do is applaud those who put twice as much effort as others into earning their “C”…they are not at all average to me. 

And I might add, "C" is my favorite letter in the alphabet – so nice that I personally use it twice.  🙂

Day one hundred and fifty-nine of the new forty – obla di obla da

CC