Case Study Melinda Grant

Melinda Grant is placed in a dilemma where her teaching strategy has been questioned. She believes that interaction with other students, projects and involvement with art may not drill the students and produce higher test scores, but that the learning will last longer. She has been told however, that her reputation and respectability as a teacher depends on the scores her students produce. High scores reflect well on her, just as low scores reflect poorly. The other third grade teacher is more strict and conventional with her teaching, and her children produce very high test scores. Melinda is faced with this: should she continue teaching in the manner she has so carefully planned, or should she follow in the footsteps of her colleague? Melinda should not be thinking of her reputation when it comes to the education of her students. Although it is important to be thought of as a respectable teacher, in the long run her students capability to do well in the world as they grow older is much more important.