Recently I taught a class once a week to ESL students for about 8 weeks. I was told to create fun activities that would get the students talking. There were no class objectives to the course, and the students were never formally assessed. At the end of the course I gave all the students the same grade because they all completed the same activities equally. However when the homeroom teacher saw that student A, who could not speak as well as student B, got the same grade, she made an issue out of this and went to the office. The office asked me to lower the grades of the children who weren't as fluid as the others, although they completed the course work as well as the better English speakers. What do you think of this whole situation?

It sounds like you graded on participation alone. I would suggest that you go the office and tell them how you graded and you are willing to redo all student grades not only on participation but personal growth from beginning to end of the class. This should satify the office and the teacher

I'd refuse, and take it to the Board of Ed and my union. Progress for ESL students should be measured against where they started as individuals and the effort they put into it, not a single standard with the same outcome expected for everyone. This course was obviously not outcome based and as long as the kids completed the activities and made some progress measured against where they started you were right to grade the way you did.

It's a lesson for you. Always document even when they say you don't have too. If you had a rubric that you followed, even one that you had just created, you could have proven that you can't lower the grade because that would infringe on the student's rights. But since you admittedly gave them a subjective grade (not to say it's bad or anything), you left yourself open for someone else who simply wants to flex her power. There are a lot of jerks out there like this, and documentation and preparation for examination are the only ways we can stop them. Sorry about your troubles, but I'd say learn and move on right now.

The first problem with this situation is that you were responsible for grading students for a class that had no objectives. The whole purpose of grades is to measure how well students met standards. If there were no standards then you can't measure how well they met them. Therefore, you are left with nothing to grade the students on besdies effort and participation. You need to explain this to the office. Perhaps next time the administration will set some objectives for this ESL course.

Who is the "office" that asked you to change the grade? Are they administrators?

If you followed the guidelines for the class, as they were told to you, I would refuse to change the grades. Administration is free to do whatever they want. Do not expect me to sign off on these grades if they change them.

I might argue that even if some were not as fluid as others they made the same amount of progress. I would also remind them that speaking was not the only criteria used in deciding the grades.

I can't type what I really think :-) But I agree with the other answers - YOU were put in charge of that class and all that goes with it - including the grades - NO ONE should change what you, as a professional, have decided.

Wow - are you serious, Bruce? I would take a great deal of issue with this as a teacher myself.
I would refuse to change the grades - the homeroom teacher was NOT in your classroom when you were teaching, she does not know how well they did, and her going to the office about it is overstepping her bounds on this.

I would refuse and explain that you thought all of the students did equally well, all made the effort and so they all deserve the grade they were given. If they continue to make an issue of this, then I would threaten to go to the superintendent of the schools about it.

No job is worth it, IMO< that would require to allow second guessing of my grading and basically my ability as a teacher..

the whole situations sucks bread dough through a straw.

She's got some nerve. I'd stand my ground.

This is shameful. I once worked with a teacher who had already filled in the grades for students, before she's received their marks from science, library, and music teachers. Her rational was, "I know my kids better."

To me, that was as professional and personal slap at all the other teachers, showing them no respect.

Your class is your's. Within your room and during that period, you (within the guidelines of your district and adminstrator) set rules and conduct the learning experience. If your goal was active, constructive participation, then your marks would reflect that.

Teaching ESL students myself, I recognize that each day is a challenge for them. To be fully involved in the learning and to gain from it is a win for them. The homeroom teacher has no right to take that away.

Did she talk (not confront) to you? If she does this, then it diminishes you in the eyes of the students and places your judgments lower on the scale. You are not a computer program or an educational game that gives only practice, while the homeroom teacher evaluates and grades. It may be news to her, but you are also a teacher and deserve the same consideration and respect.

Talk with the Principal and explain your grading. If the Principal and the homeroom teacher are not happy with your grading system, then they must want to remove that from you. And in doing so, they remove more than they know.