The semester has been over for a couple of weeks now, so I'm sure everyone has found out their final grades for the classes they took over the last couple of months. Some of you may be happy with your work and final grades, while others might not be so pleased. As explained during syllabus week, final grades consist of several factors: Tests, quizzes, projects, presentations and the most feared of all, the dreaded participation grade.
For some, participation grades come easy. These people are usually the extroverts who have no problem giving their opinions during class discussions, and usually, have a larger personality than others in the classroom. For others, it is almost impossible to achieve a perfect participation grade due to the uneasiness they experience while attempting, or even thinking about talking in front of their fellow peers. As someone who is an introvert when it comes to inside the classroom, I have always hated the idea of being graded on "participation". Most of my classes have several students who like to take the reigns during discussions, and I am fine with that. I learn better from observing than I do through participating. I just wish some professors would understand this about myself and several other students, and eliminate the idea of participation grades.
Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking, or just speaking in general. It is a true, legitimate phobia. Obviously, I do not assume that those who chose to not participate in class all have this phobia, but I am just putting things into perspective. Think about it like this: If a student has a fear to speak publicly in front of their peers, should their grades be penalized for it? Acrophobia is the fear of heights, arachnophobia is the fear of spiders, and ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes. One can argue that these fears are more common than glossophobia. So I ask: If professors are not allowed to grade students on playing with spiders and snakes and bungee jumping off of a cliff, then why should they be permitted to grade us on our public speaking, which many of us are not comfortable with?
A specific situation has prompted me to write this article. One of my friends recently found out her final grade for one of her classes, and she had received a "C-". You may be thinking, "That's not too bad! At least she passed!" Well, you thought wrong. At our school, we have a very unfortunate rule that states if we do not receive a grade of a "C" in any class within our major, then you do not get credit for that course and you have to take it again. That's right, you can show up to every single class, get a "C-", and have to pay out of pocket to take the class all over again. To me, failing is failing. Receiving an "F", not a "C-", should be grounds for taking a course over, but that is beside the point.
Anyways, my friend reached out to her professor to discuss the grade that she was given. Her professor told her that the reason she got a "C-", and the reason she would not be getting credit for the course, was because of her lack of participation. Even typing this now, I am getting upset. When I think of someone not getting credit for a course, I think of someone who skips class once a week, doesn't do homework, and fails their tests. My friend showed up to every single one of her classes for this course, did all of the required work, and performed well on all of her tests. She essentially failed the course for not talking in class.
Professors know the rules about receiving a "C-" in a class to receive credit. With that being said, it is absolutely beyond me how someone can fail a student who showed up to every class and did all of her homework, knowing fully well that she would, once again, have to pay out of pocket to retake the course. All because of what? Participation grades.
Obviously, these words will receive from criticism. Especially from those adults who always tell us millennials that social anxiety is all in our heads and that we are going to have to talk when we get into the workplace. Well guess what: I am not there yet. Right now, I will listen to your lectures, take your tests, and show up to every single one of your classes. If I do all of this adequately, then I expect to recieve credit for the course. So professors: unless you are teaching a public speaking course, us students ask that you be a little more leniant when it comes to participation grades.
