[realbinky]

It also dis-associates teachers' knowledge of the kids. I once did not do an assignment in a class when I was 11 or 12. I was in an advanced class, and the teacher gave an research assignment due the next day. I refused to do it, based on the amount of time being too short. So the next day, I didn't hand it in, and got a zero. This teacher gives out a semi-report card 1/2 way through the term to let parents know how the kids are doing. Not an overall grade, but a grade for each of some list of assignments. I had that 0 on there and my parents flipped. BUT, at the term end, I got an A (somewhere in the 90s) in that class. Why? The teacher knew I knew what he taught, we had a generally good relationship, his job was to teach, mine to learn and I did. He knew that 0 was there, but also knew it wasn't important. He KNEW I wouldn't learn that I could just skip all my work and that I could pass, and I didn't. I simply disagreed with one assignment and actively decided to not do it, but I DID learn his subject. If a kid tries and barely makes it because he just has trouble and another kid COULD but doesn't and the grades are similar, the teacher *should* KNOW this and weight the grades accordingly. Effort counts. Sure I was older than 6-9, but it still wouldn't have scarred me for life if I was that age.