The Blackboard Jungle

days spent beating back the seeds of doubt

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

So much for my 'greatest teacher you'll ever have' speech.

Looking back over Charlie's data in the previous year, I notice she'd entered my classroom at level 5, a level higher than her peers.

By October I'd reduced her grade to level 4. Somehow, attendance at my lessons had reduced her scores from 'higher than average' to a flat coasting level of 'just about literate'.

Her January test showed further disintegration: level 3. This is what the government deems sub literate for an eleven year old.

April and another assessment. Charlie now scores level 2 - unable to write a recognisable sentence.

I'm actively destroying intelligence quotient here. By the minute.