'Open letter' from a teacher at Vinh University High School for the Gifted: The 10 score is not a mistake, the mistake is in the 'process'

This is also what teacher Nguyen Khanh Ly - a teacher at Vinh University High School for the Gifted - is concerned about and shared on her personal page with the title "Should 9 and 10 points be a part of the system of goals, motivations, aspirations... of children???".

Nghe An Newspaper would like to re-introduce this article.

Personally, I honestly and resolutely always want my children to aim for and strive to achieve 9 and 10 points in the exam.

The 9 and 10 points themselves are one of the measures to evaluate the results you have achieved after a journey of trying and conquering the subjects. It is a reward, a message that you have done well, your efforts have been recognized. You are not a perfect person but you can absolutely achieve perfection if you are determined and hard-working.

Why not be happy, not appreciate it?

English class of students at Vinh University Pedagogical Practice School. Photo: My Ha

Liking 10s is not always a sign of achievement sickness, of showing off, of formality - if it is a real 10. When I was in school, 9s and 10s were always reserved for the best students. I admired them very much and in fact, they are all very successful now, living well and happily.

I don't see any child who gets a 10 getting stressed or becoming a liar or show-off! Now, a 10 makes my child happy and chirpy all day...

Who says 10 points don't bring joy and happiness?

Because I love 10s so much, I am very dissatisfied with the current way of giving 10s, which is given out and "universalized" easily. The whole class got 10s - which means that everyone is the best, tries the hardest and has the same ability.

In education, there is never such a uniform phenomenon because each person's ability and strengths are different, and the level of effort is even different. Unless to achieve that, the children have practiced a few similar math sample problems, a few similar literature sample problems and recited English reading lessons limited to a few pages of the book. That is the "production process" of 10 points - not the journey to conquer 10 points.

That process makes the 10 points become meaningless and pointless! I feel like my child's efforts are being cheapened and betrayed. It makes some parents misunderstand their child's ability and others feel disappointed, frustrated, and embarrassed because their child is so bad - even though their child only made one or two mistakes and got an 8 or 9!

Recess time of students at Nghi Lien Secondary School (Vinh City). Photo: My Ha

Since when did 5, 6, 7 become extinct on the grading scale? Since when is 10 normal, 9 good and 8 poor? Since when is 10 hated, despised, condemned?

9 and 10 points should still be the desire, motivation and joy of children in studying. Of course, besides that joy, children will have many other joys. Besides that motivation, children will have many other motivations. And of course, even if children do not get 9 and 10 points in a subject, they can still achieve achievements in other areas.

Even if your child isn't the best at anything else, that's perfectly okay. Because most of us are okay. And so are our parents.

Not getting a 10 is very, very normal. But the desire to get a 10, the joy of getting a 10, the appreciation for a 10... are things to have.

So, let's return the 9s and 10s to their rightful place so that the person who achieves them doesn't feel indifferent or ashamed. Don't advise your child to "get a 10 at all costs" but don't tell your child that "you don't need a 10". I still like to tell my child: Get a 10 with your efforts and honesty! Then, I will be happy and proud! Honestly!

Teacher Khanh Ly (red shirt, middle) with her students. Photo: NVCC

Teacher Nguyen Khanh Ly is currently a Literature teacher at Vinh University High School for the Gifted.

When sharing this article, she said she was standing from the perspective of a mother with a child in elementary school.

As for her, even though she is teaching at a specialized school, she is not under too much pressure about grades. The lessons are graded quite practically and there are even students who only get 2 points.

She also said that there is no really high score for Literature, 8 and 8.5 are for excellent writing. In special cases, she is still flexible in giving 9 and 10 points but through oral tests or 15-minute tests.

As for important exams, teachers must mark carefully so that students can see their mistakes and improve together.