Reasons cited for fairness include: the fact that I let them go to the bathroom (which is required by school policy, by the way); I treat everyone equally; I give tickets for answers; I don't get angry; I am nice; the rules are easy to follow; I call on many people in class; I "do the right thing."
Reasons cited for unfairness include: the fact that I don't let students go to the bathroom; I give too much work; I don't let the class have parties or watch movies; I gave someone a check when he/she didn't deserve it.
I'll take it. Seeing these responses made me proud of the foundation I've laid in my classroom. Students seem to think overall that my room is a place where justice reigns--where if you did something wrong, you deserved a consequence, and you got one. They also think it's a place where they will be rewarded for hard work by getting tickets and having the chance at picking something from the Treasure Chest. They know what to expect in my room. Some of them said that I am "nice," "caring," or willing to help. I was happy my students could see these qualities in me, since I certainly feel a lot less caring and nice than I do in every other part of my life. On the other hand, some of the comments about being "nice" and "fun" worried me a bit because those aren't necessarily the best qualities for a student to associate with you.
The responses also made me proud of my students. Most of them are mature enough to see the reasons why I'm running the classroom the way I am. Even if they groan or roll their eyes about a consequence, they know later that they deserved it. I'm reading between the lines a bit.
I'm very glad I asked my students the question. It made me feel like my students really respect me, which is such an important difference from summer school. I'm seen as an authority figure but not as a dictator.
Below is a solid, lenghty sampling of student responses. But first, here are some of my favorites/most interesting:
"Yes because they yell at us. She are trying to help us do better. She is fair because she lets us draw ticket when other classes don't. She is trying to teach to go to the next grade."
"Yes because she always cares for everyone and she always treats everyone equal and she's very nice."
"She will not punish the class if one person is talking. She will help the best way she can."
"Yes because when you get a warning you do not get mad."
"Yes Mrs. Gray is fair because she's only teaching us reposabiluity and manors."
"She is fair she treats everybody the same and she does not have favirites."
"Ms. Gray is fair because she is careing for every single class she has."
"Yes, she is doing the right thing."
"Yes, she is doing the right thing."
"Yes because she never get loud with you she's a good teacher. And she's one of my faviort teacher."
"I think she is fair because she is a good teacher and she is not being mean when he as to make rules or consequences. She also lets us do activities and fun little challenges.""The boy ran to school, I love to play football. The games is good."
"She lets everyone get a turn and everyone gets consequences."
"I think the teacher is fair because all the rules are easy to follow and if your nice to the teacher and follow directions, you'll make a good impression on the teacher."
"No. Because we never have a party or something like that."
"Yes. Because she treats everybody the same."
"Yes because if we mistreat her then she will mistreat us."
"Mrs. Gray is nice she is fun she try to make class fun for us so we will learn better."
"Yes she treat all children equal."
"Yes because when we have a test you let us review before the test."
"Yes because she always try to do the same for everyone if she see someone doing something she gives them a check she will do that for everyone."
"Fair about what, but I know you are"
"Mrs. Gray you are fair."
"Sometime because sometime she want let you go to the bathroom but else she is fair."
"Yes! Cause she lets us go to the bathroom but some people mess it up for ones who want to go to the bathroom."
"No because she don't take us to the restroom after lunch."
"Fair because you let us take turns going to the restroom."
"Yes because you shouldn't let us go to the restroom everyday because you are suppose to go when you leave activity instead the student are talking in the hallway that is why she is fair."
"No because she always give the whole class a punishment because of a few people."
"No because she don't give people checks when they do something wrong"
"Because we do too much work not"
"No because when someone gets in trouble at lunch she don't take the class to the bathroom."
"Yes because you let us go to the bathroom."
"Yes because you let us do stuff fun."
"is because she get the people who be bad."
"Yes because she does things right."
"Yes because she treats everyone equally to me."
"Yes she is fair because if you and a person are talkin shell get both of you"
"Mrs. Gray is fair because if we be nice to her she will be nice to us."
"Ms. Gray is fair I do not know why she would'nt be fair she lets us do fair work and gives us breaks and lots of tickets."
"I think Ms. Gray is fair because she only gives us checks for a reason and thats for talking, getting up out of our seat, and touching somebody. Also shes made it clear to us the rules, rewards, and consequences, so we should not be breaking the rules"
"No because she always giving us checks."
"Yes your rules are simple."
"Sometime because she is nice but I said sometimes because she gave me a copy assignment and it wasn't me talking because I stopped when she told me too."
"Yes because gives us warnings and then she gives us consequences but other teachers just give you no warnings they just give us an referil."
"Ms. Gray is not fair for that is that she gave me a check by my number becas derol had got my pensol and throwe it on the floor and I went to get it"
"Yes because she always let you answer question if you want to"
"yes because she is nice"
"No because when Jamel waz talking yesterday she put a check by my name."
"Yes she tell everyone the same thing."
"Yes she is fair because when someone gets in trouble she has the right to give you a warning or write you up."
"sometimes and sometimes not?"
"Yes because she is a nice teacher and she do everything fair and right."
"No be cause she gives checks to me but not to other kids."
"Yes because she thets ever stunteds have a cance to talk"
"Yes because she give us tickets when we get a question write"
"Yes because many people need consequences for their actions."
"Yes because she is nice."
"Yes. She lets us use her: pens, pincels, paper and she lets us go to the bathroom."
"Yes because she is nice and we have a lot of fun in her class."
"No, she's just not"
"She is fair, she gives us updates on how much time we got left on assignment and she gives directions"
"No because you should give us two warnings instead of one and we don't really do any fun things like watch a miove if we be good."
"Yes because she's not like all the othe teacher giving people writing assiments or conceuences for no good reason."
"Yes bcuse she have is the nisest ere in the school"
"halfway. sometimes she the best but sometimes she not."
"yes, because she is nice and cool and her rules in her classroom should be followed and if they are not she will give you a check."
"Yes becaue if were stuck you help us and if are grade is low you can do extra credit."
"Yes becaus every friday she let us git somethin from the Tresure Box and she is nice and a smart teacher"
"Yes, the teacher is fair because she let's you answer questions, and you get a ticket when you answer a question right. Also, at the end of the week the teacher would pick a ticket out of the bucket and who's ever name gets picked they get a prize."
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