Talking points: should students be able to grade their teachers?
Hate it when you can’t talk back? Well, you can with Young Post. Have your say and share with students around Hong Kong
Teachers grade students all the time, should students get to grade them back?Yes. Students grading their teachers would mean teachers know how to improve their teaching styles to suit those in their class. Students need teachers to help them learn better, and this would be a way of making that process easier.
Mak Ching-san, 14, Henrietta Secondary School
I don’t think so. Some students might, if they dislike a teacher, say bad things about them even if they are good at their job. Teachers might stop handing out punishments to misbehaving students if they think they will be unfairly graded.
Wicky Nizan Shobana, 14, Precious Blood Secondary School
Definitely! I think this would create a better learning environment and make lessons more interesting. If the teachers were being graded, they would know what their problems are or why students are doing badly. In a way, this system would benefit both teachers and students.
Teresa Kwok, 14, South Island School
Of course! Teachers would better understand their teaching abilities thanks to the grades. Students would need to pay more attention in class, too, because they would need to have reasons for how they grade them. This would lead them to learn more, anyway. But I don’t think students should be allowed to criticise their teachers or say mean things about them.
Lisa Lo Tsz-ying, 14, Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School
No. Students should respect their teachers and should not grade them. This seems like a rude thing to do. If students marked a teacher down, then they might feel sad or upset.
Ken Tsoi, 13, Sheng Kung Hui Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School
Definitely. We all need feedback. That is how we improve. Teachers do not get much feedback, though. The only form of feedback they get is based on how their students perform in exams. If students were able to grade their teachers, it might help the teachers reflect on their teaching.
Fung Man-yin, 14, Precious Blood Secondary School
Yes, because it’s a good way for teachers to improve the quality of their teaching. It would be a good way for students to express their opinions about their teachers and lectures.
Lee Ka-lo, 16, Tung Wa Group of Hospitals Lo Kong Ting Memorial College
No, I don’t think so. Some students might give their teacher a bad grade just because they don’t like them, or give feedback about a teacher’s class that they don’t even bother to attend. What if these grades resulted in a teacher getting fired?
Clarice Chan Pui-wun, 12, Sheng Kung Hui Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School
No. Teachers become qualified to teach, and students do not have the right or qualifications to grade their teachers fairly.
Ng Kwun-tat, 13, Po Leung Kuk Lee Shing Pik College
Definitely not. Students are immature and might give a bad grade to a teacher just because they do not get on, or they have been punished by them. The grades might affect a teacher’s self-esteem. This does not sound like it would create a good teaching environment. I think there should be a way to measure how well a teacher can teach, but it shouldn’t be left to students.
Lee Cheuk-ling, 13, Fanling Rhenish Church Secondary School
In our next Talking Points, we’ll discuss:
Should schools replace one class per week with an hour of self-study?
We are now accepting your answers for this topic. To take part, email your answer with your name, age, and school, along with a nice, clear selfie (make sure it’s not blurry), to [email protected] by lunchtime on Monday. Don’t forget to include “Talking Points” in the subject line.
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