Teachers annoyed by students’ grade grubbing

What drives teachers insane? Students who have bad penmanship, leave class early and don’t read directions on assignments. But of all the misread instructions and the scrawled handwriting upon wrinkled sheets of paper, many teachers’ biggest pet peeve is grade grubbing: Students asking teachers to give them more points on an assignment or a test unnecessarily and in a pestering way.

Math teacher Lauchlin Loeffler, who teaches Algebra 2 and Trigonometry/Precalculus Honors, said that it comes off as disrespectful when students believe that they have the right to correct a teacher’s decisions on a test or assignment.

“A lot of thought goes into when teachers do grading, so students should respect that,” Loeffler said.

Many teachers also believe that grade grubbing is not only disrespectful, but unnecessary, because school is about so much more than grades.

“I understand that kids feel like they’re under a lot pressure to perform, but I find that those situations work themselves out,” English teacher Ken Nguyen said.  “[Students] should try as best as possible just to focus on whether or not they are getting as much out of the course as they should be.”

Chemistry teacher Janny Cahatol thinks high school is “the time when students learn social and thinking skills” and has much more to offer than just grades.

“It’s very unfortunate to see the students give themselves this little box to fit into,” Cahatol said.  “Saying ‘I’m an A student or B student’ doesn’t really speak about the fullness of who you are.”

Although students are constantly told their grades do not define them, it is hard for many students to accept a bad grade.

“I’m always disappointed in myself when I don't receive the grade that I would like or what I think I deserve,” junior Joy Tang said. “Even though we're told that grades don't define you, when students are applying to colleges, grades actually are a defining moment of whether someone is accepted or not.”

Despite this disappointment, she tries not to be a grade grubber.

Several students interviewed said grade grubbing is pointless anyway.

“People who grade grub are kind of ridiculous,” junior Meeta Marathe said. “What are you really going to do with one extra point?”

Junior Joowon Lee sees grade grubbing as basically complaining. He understands that missing points are just a consequence of his own “laziness and lack of understanding.”

English teacher Michael Kim said he doesn’t view all grade grubbing as negative.

“It doesn’t bother me too much, because I’m not used to this much grade grubbing. Hearing it [means I’m] seeing a student who invests time and energy into [academics],” he said.

Kim also said that he listens to the grade grubbing sometimes and takes the students’ comments into consideration.

Math teacher PJ Yim, who previously taught at Leigh High School, said grade grubbing isn’t any worse here than anywhere else.

Sophomore Farbod Moghadam, a self-proclaimed “proud grade grubber,” said it stems from the intense academic pressure students are under.

Grade grubbing has become a  common occurrence in classrooms, one which Moghadam calls “an art, a skill that must be developed over time.”

Sophomore Shrey Desai said that grade grubbing is an important part of high school.

“Grade grubbing is necessary, even though it has a negative connotation in the academic sphere,” Desai said.  “It has an important role in any institution because teachers are prone to making arbitrary decisions. To correct those mistakes, students can negotiate for a better grade.”

Although grade grubbing can be a controversial issue, it’s an art that many students are continuously learning to perfect.

“It has become a part of our culture that anything below a 4.0 is considered suboptimal, so whatever means necessary to achieve the A grade is justified — that includes grade grubbing,” Desai said.