Inaccurate teacher assessment

[Anonymous]

What is the best way to refute an inaccurate end semester assessment when submitting transcripts for admission to a new school? We know to speak badly of DS's teacher might be a death sentence for admission but waiting until the end of the Fall 1st marking period and SSAT scores might confirm our concerns.

Is there an appropriate way to address this during the application process or during the school interview? Private school admission staff can be a bit touchy on this subject

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by inaccurate? And I don't think the schools get the comments, just the grades.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP. I am not going to go into the particulars of the narrative part but we have number grades for each quarter with narrative below. Interesting that you say schools might only get the grade. I will look into that.

[Anonymous]

How do you know it is inaccurate? That makes a big difference to my response.

[Anonymous]

Comments do not go to other schools. That is standard.

[Anonymous]

Our experience -- twice -- has been that:

1. Comments do in fact go to other schools, and

2. Under the Virginia Assn of Independent Schools application policy to which almost every VA private school has committed in writing, private schools are automatically permitted to share any record, period, with the new/proposed-new school. You probably agreed to information sharing when you executed the enrollment contract; there are broad school-policy clauses in the VAIS forms.

Please remember that most VA private schools take the position that they are not in any respect subject to FERPA/Buckley Amendment.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Our school provides everything including number grade and narrative to prospective schools. Just need to figure out how to address an untrue ding.

[Anonymous]

Its really difficult to give you advice when we don't know the specifics. For example, it might be something that isn't worth drawing attention to, and will make you seem defensive if you do. Or it may be something that you could approach the teacher who made the ding and ask her for a recommendation that puts it in perspective and is positive, which would take the sting out. or it may be something to go to the school administration about. But, again, its hard to know. I do think that challenging it in the application process will do more harm than good. Also, be really careful to make sure it is untrue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its really difficult to give you advice when we don't know the specifics. For example, it might be something that isn't worth drawing attention to, and will make you seem defensive if you do. Or it may be something that you could approach the teacher who made the ding and ask her for a recommendation that puts it in perspective and is positive, which would take the sting out. or it may be something to go to the school administration about. But, again, its hard to know. I do think that challenging it in the application process will do more harm than good. Also, be really careful to make sure it is untrue.

This.

Please talk to the teacher first, if you have not already. It could be a factual error, which you can ask the teacher to fix (e.g., a score reported in the narrative doesn't match the actual score). However, if this is more of a character assessment, you may have little to stand on. Children can behave very differently in school compared to at home. Don't be offended if the teacher makes this assessment of your child.

[Anonymous]

OP, as a PP noted, unless this is truly a factual error-- something completely non-objective-- there's really no such thing as an "untrue ding." A narrative assessment is just that-- one teacher's assessment of a student's progress. You might not agree with it, or even think it's unfair. But if that's the teacher's opinion, unless she really has nothing to back up that opinion and you can prove it, then it is what it is.

I will say that as a teacher who has been on admissions committees, one negative comment by one teacher is not going to derail an application. Schools want to know the whole picture of a student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, as a PP noted, unless this is truly a factual error-- something completely non-objective-- there's really no such thing as an "untrue ding." A narrative assessment is just that-- one teacher's assessment of a student's progress. You might not agree with it, or even think it's unfair. But if that's the teacher's opinion, unless she really has nothing to back up that opinion and you can prove it, then it is what it is.

I will say that as a teacher who has been on admissions committees, one negative comment by one teacher is not going to derail an application. Schools want to know the whole picture of a student.

Yours is the most level headed response especially coming from someone who has been on an admissions committee. I think the OP would do well by heeding your advice and breathe a bit on the 'whole picture' comment.

[Anonymous]

What about an error like this: "it was too bad Johnny's paper on the battle of Gettysburg was handed in late this semester" when Johnny's paper was actually about the battle of bull run and was handed in on time. This kind of error showed up on my DCs report card but we never bothered to follow up on the error. I think the teacher mixed my kid up with another kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about an error like this: "it was too bad Johnny's paper on the battle of Gettysburg was handed in late this semester" when Johnny's paper was actually about the battle of bull run and was handed in on time. This kind of error showed up on my DCs report card but we never bothered to follow up on the error. I think the teacher mixed my kid up with another kid.

That would be an error worth fixing and I can't imagine why it would cause an issue with the school and/or teacher. A comment along the lines of "Johnny is lazi and unmotivated" would be something a parent should address if you feel it's untrue. That said, something like "Johnny's need to speak out without regard for classroom rules" is different and something only the teacher, not the parent could accurately confirm. You'd be surprised how many parents can't imagine their precious angels doing anthing out of line!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about an error like this: "it was too bad Johnny's paper on the battle of Gettysburg was handed in late this semester" when Johnny's paper was actually about the battle of bull run and was handed in on time. This kind of error showed up on my DCs report card but we never bothered to follow up on the error. I think the teacher mixed my kid up with another kid.

I don't see any reason why you can't approach the teacher, and if necessary the administration, to have this fixed. Rather than worry about how to pitch this, if its so obviously and provably incorrect, have it corrected.

But I don't even think this comment is that big a deal and would affect his application.

[Anonymous]

I'm 21:10 and I'm wondering if 20:22 is OP because that post doesn't seem to fit with the original post. O don't see how this fits with waiting for marks and SSAT scores in the fall -- I'm not sure I understand what you meant by that. And I really don't understand why you would be asking how to "refute" this with the school you are applying to when (1) it sounds easily corrected, if these are the same posts, and (2) not a big enough deal to worry about the consequences either way, as much as you are.