Comments on: Liz’s rant: The red pen

By: junk food restaurants

junk food restaurants — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:00:45 +0000

In college we were encouraged to use red on our quizes when we got the answer wrong. We wrote the right answer in red and that way when the question showed up again on mid-terms and finals we were more likely to get it right. It worked for me.
Who comes up with this stupid stuff anyway?! I’m ok and my teachers used red all the time.

By: gary fitzgerald

gary fitzgerald — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:19:52 +0000

I’m doing some research about school systems that ban the use of red pens for grading papers. Can you tell me the names of these school systems?

By: Niki

Niki — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:25:57 +0000

Coming soon to a school near you…writing in mid air with one’s finger as not to waste paper or ink or lead. Since everyone will be equal it’s no matter that the teacher can’t actually SEE the work. The mere fact that the kiddies showed up to school get them an “A”.

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:26:50 +0000

Howling, Susan! First, I do love those Flair pens. Now, I’ll know to keep my eyes out for case lot purchases.

Second, I am simply stunned at the red pen bans – not to mention the speaker’s attitude at your meeting. Even Colton appreciates the red pen!

Two words, my dear cousin: nanny state.

By: Susan S.

Susan S. — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:06:21 +0000

I think I may have a wrong verb tense in my last comment. I’ll bet it was caused by my lack of self esteem from every single paper I ever handed in as a student being marked in red ink!

By: Susan S.

Susan S. — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:09:52 +0000

Not only have red pens been banned for years at my school, we do not put x’s on incorrect items. We circle them. A circle is friendlier than a big angry X.

So for most of my teaching career my grading weapon of choice has been the blue Flair pen. I buy boxes of them at office supply stores. Pens are not provided by my school district.

Interestingly, I attended a meeting about the NEW NEW NEW Kentucky standards on 3/22 and the young man who was conducting the meeting told us about the evil of red pens. He quoted a study which showed that even a good grade written in red was viewed negatively by our students. Bless his heart — did he realize that sitting in his audience were a total of hundreds of years of teaching experience? I wonder if he is one of ones damaged by red ink and X marks by mean old teachers like us.

By the way I have purple Flairs, too (just in case).

Love to you and Colton.

By: Kelly Ann T.

Kelly Ann T. — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:36:58 +0000