Really, Mr. 75?

"Can't you just give me a 75?"

A few semesters ago, a student asked me this verbatim. I wrote this post about a week afterwards, but I removed it because he was still my student. Much more time has passed, and I still have the same thoughts, so I thought I'd share it again.

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I honestly chuckled and said, "No! I can't just give you a 75! What?!"

I've been thinking about this interaction, and now that I've had a little time to process it, I have written a hypothetical note to Mr. 75. Take whatever tone you'd like here, but I wrote this as candidly as I could.

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Dear Mr. 75,

Thank you for talking to me after class last week. I think it takes guts to talk one-on-one with your teacher. But, we need to discuss what you asked.

No; I hope you know I can’t and won’t just give you a 75. You have to work for that passing grade. I know it’s cliché, but I don’t “give” grades. You have to earn them.

So what happened with your first paper?

I know that the first freshman comp paper is often a wakeup call. I feel as though your question makes you the advocate for all my students still hitting the snooze.

First, why didn’t you have your rough draft done on time? That day in class you told me you forgot it, so I told you to hurry and come back with it. You just disappeared. Please don’t tell me you have it finished when you don’t.

And have you read the assigned chapters in the textbook? I have you read them for a reason. It may not be The Hunger Games, but I’ve certainly read worse writing books than this one. Honestly, I quite like it.

To top it off—why didn’t you take me up on the offer to redo your paper for a new grade?! The letter outlining the requirements is as clear as I know to make it. If you didn’t understand it, ask.

If you ever don’t understand something, ask.

I try to make myself as available as possible. I’ll even drive for an hour to campus on a day I don’t teach if you need me to. You just have to ask. I will always make time to talk about your effort in my class.

So here we are, five weeks into the semester. You have another paper due on Monday. I do appreciate you coming with something resembling a rough draft today, but it still wasn’t what was required.

Now, I just want to know: Have you caught up in the textbook? Did you copy down the template I provided for the thesis statement specifically designed for this paper during class this week? Have you been taking notes as we practice the skills you need to demonstrate for this paper? Have you stopped by the campus writing center like I encouraged you to do?

I really am on your side; I really am rooting for you! But, you’re in college. There is only so much handholding I can do. I want to prepare you for future classes...for your life once you leave this pretty little campus.

So, no, Mr. 75. I cannot give you a 75, but I’m here to help you earn it!

Sincerely,

H. Burcham