Finals

At the end of the semester, we give "finals." Being a math teacher and a big fan of data, we track the data from our course finals over the last 5 years. We can evaluate, as instructors, what indicators are weak and need more work and what indicators students mastered. Looking at the data as a group, though ,we lose what all those numbers mean for each student. For instance, we had a student that failed both 1st and 2nd quarters, but passed the final with a C. What does this mean for what the student learned/mastered? Should they pass the course because they demonstrated some mastery on the final test? Does one test determine mastery? We often say one test is not a good measure of their learning if they fail...does the same logic hold true if they pass? I consider every student one of my own kids. It is a difficult thing to tell a student they failed. Especially when the student studied and worked hard to pass. These are lessons that are not any fun to learn or teach. Teachers across our state are making those teaching decisions every day. Parents and students across the state are having to live with our decisions too. I wonder if the students know how much sleep I (and every teacher) lose over these situations. It was hard to leave for Christmas break with my last contact telling a student they failed (or is it I who failed the student?).