Miss Shields Gives Ralphie a C+ on His Theme. What a Meanie!!!

[tvguy]

This is so true (except for the review - I enjoy the movie!) DS doesn't believe me when I tell him that C is supposed to mean average work, Bs used to be very respectable, and As were something to really be proud of. He says to the kids "C is the new F".)

While it has been 40+ years since I graduated from High School, the class I got the lowest grade in, a D+, was the class I learned the most in, worked hardest at, and enjoyed the most. Teacher's notes on my report card noted that I had probably made the most progress in the class of any student. I ended up retaking the class in summer school, and my final transcript reflects the B+ I got in the summer school class.
My mom took me out of public high school my freshman year, and put me in a private religious school who had a curriculum that was completely out of sync with the public schools. Basically it put me a year behind when I returned to the public schools my Sophomore year.

 

[minnie mum]

This is so true (except for the review - I enjoy the movie!) DS doesn't believe me when I tell him that C is supposed to mean average work, Bs used to be very respectable, and As were something to really be proud of. He says to the kids "C is the new F".)

Show him what a Bell curve is. Unless the class is only made up of little geniuses ( genii?) the only way for C to be the new F is if the teacher is making the exams too easy.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

I don't recall the generation in their late 20s getting trophies for just showing up.
Most people would love to get an A, and they understand that there is a lot of hardwork put into getting that A.
I don't see the point in your thread.

 

[DisneyOma]

In A Christmas Story, Ralphie imagines he'll receive an A+++ for his theme about wanting a BB gun for Christmas. Teacher gives him a C+. Ralphie is devastated.

26 year old stepdaughter called Miss Shields a mean B for crushing his dreams. Of course, she's from the generation where you get trophies for showing up, and said Ralphie deserved at least an A- for completing the assignment.

The C+ grade seemed entirely reasonable to me. Back in the 1940s, long before the days of dumbed-down curriculum and grade inflation, a C+ was quite good, not a failure. And nothing he wrote appeared to earn a higher grade.

(I love those scenes where Ralphie is fantasizing about Miss Shields grading his paper, and then the teacher and his mother laughing at him.)

I agree - the C+ is just fine, for his paper was just fine, not great, and certainly not fantastic. An A- for completing the assignment? Oh my.

You seem very bitter and confused about what childhood was/is/should be.

Childhood is a time for learning, and one important thing to learn is how to work hard. Also, how to do your best, and still not get an A, and handle it without thinking the world is going to end.

I don't recall the generation in their late 20s getting trophies for just showing up.
Most people would love to get an A, and they understand that there is a lot of hardwork put into getting that A.
I don't see the point in your thread.

My older daughter is about the same age as the aforementioned stepdaughter. Yes, there were medals, trophies, award ribbons for completing a season of any sport. "Graduation" ceremonies for preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school. We didn't feed into any of it. There's a box of trophies down in the basement ready to be donated to Goodwill. The only trophies my kids keep are the ones they really won - a sectional silver medal from synchro, a dance trophy for critic's choice, a few first place ribbons for art shows, the 8th place finish for gymnastics at a state wide event, and a senior level skating test passed by my older daughter. That one's framed! The dance pins that are given out for every dance in a competition, the end of the year trophies from gymnastics, the soccer medals for being on the team - accepted graciously, but then ignored and now headed to be sold/recycled.

Of course people would love to get an A. The point was that Ralphie wrote a basic, simple essay about wanting the gun and so he got an average grade.

 

[justgrace]

Only on the DIS community board is there a thread arguing over the grade of a fictitious 9 year old character's essay in a Christmas movie...

You people provide some good entertainment - and I mean that as a compliment!!

 

[Julie's Haircut]

I agree - the C+ is just fine, for his paper was just fine, not great, and certainly not fantastic. An A- for completing the assignment? Oh my.

Of course people would love to get an A. The point was that Ralphie wrote a basic, simple essay about wanting the gun and so he got an average grade.

Yep, I was floored when stepD said he should get the A minus just for turning it in.

I seriously doubt it was marked down for him wanting the Red Ryder BB gun. There were some mediocre phrases for a 4th grader and he misspelled Christmas. A C+ is more than adequate.

Only on the DIS community board is there a thread arguing over the grade of a fictitious 9 year old character's essay in a Christmas movie...

You people provide some good entertainment - and I mean that as a compliment!!

I try to provide some ridiculous entertainment, and it looks like I succeeded this time!! And I'd gladly accept a C+ from Miss Shields for my efforts on this one.

 

[justgrace]

I try to provide some ridiculous entertainment, and it looks like I succeeded this time!! And I'd gladly accept a C+ from Miss Shields for my efforts on this one.

Aww come on! You deserve at least a B! lol

 

[Cantw8]

LOL, he even tried to bribe her with that fruit basket. Yes, I think the C+ was being generous on that theme

 

[Jennasis]

When I was in 5th grade, we had to do a huge project about careers and what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wanted desperately to be a riding instructor and horse trainer (5th grade remember?). When my teacher found out what I was going to do my research project on, she rolled her eyes at me (because every book report was on a horse book, etc etc) then told me "that's not a real career. Pick something else. How about an insurance salesman, like your dad?" Ummm, what?? I was crushed and defiant and did my project on being a horse trainer. I busted my butt...had visual aids...interviewed local trainers etc. Keep in mind, this was on suburban Long Island in the late 80's. Not exactly a hot bed of horsey activities. During the presentation of my project (each student had to do a 10 minute speech on their career) she huffed, rolled her eyes and scribbled notes....

I got a C.

A few years ago, that bitter old battle ax bumped into my mom at the craft store. She asked my mom how I was doing. Mom, bless her, looked that old walrus in the eye and told her aaaaaaaaaall about my thriving and successful career as a professional horse trainer and riding instructor who owned her own farm etc etc. The teacher smiled and said "oh yes...I remember she really liked horses."

Deserving of a C or not, it was motivation.

 

[Fire14]

When I was in 5th grade, we had to do a huge project about careers and what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wanted desperately to be a riding instructor and horse trainer (5th grade remember?). When my teacher found out what I was going to do my research project on, she rolled her eyes at me (because every book report was on a horse book, etc etc) then told me "that's not a real career. Pick something else. How about an insurance salesman, like your dad?" Ummm, what?? I was crushed and defiant and did my project on being a horse trainer. I busted my butt...had visual aids...interviewed local trainers etc. Keep in mind, this was on suburban Long Island in the late 80's. Not exactly a hot bed of horsey activities. During the presentation of my project (each student had to do a 10 minute speech on their career) she huffed, rolled her eyes and scribbled notes....

I got a C.

A few years ago, that bitter old battle ax bumped into my mom at the craft store. She asked my mom how I was doing. Mom, bless her, looked that old walrus in the eye and told her aaaaaaaaaall about my thriving and successful career as a professional horse trainer and riding instructor who owned her own farm etc etc. The teacher smiled and said "oh yes...I remember she really liked horses."

Deserving of a C or not, it was motivation.

I love it and so reminds. Me of a few of my teachers.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think the C+ is spot on since he did not really explain the "why" everyone needs a Red Ryder BB gun. That is crucial for the body of the theme.

The football comment was a lame ending statement without any explanation as well.

Needed 2 more sentences for a full theme, imo.


What I Want for Christmas

By Ralphie Parker

What I want for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB Gun with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time. I think that everybody should have a Red Ryder BB Gun. They’re very good for Christmas. I don’t think that a football is a very good Christmas present.

 

[DisneyOma]

Yep, I was floored when stepD said he should get the A minus just for turning it in.

I seriously doubt it was marked down for him wanting the Red Ryder BB gun. There were some mediocre phrases for a 4th grader and he misspelled Christmas. A C+ is more than adequate.

But didn't the teacher say that he'd shoot his eye out? Or did I imagine that happening? That's part of the plot, that no one wants him to have it, it's not a good choice, etc.

 

[usnuzuloose]

But didn't the teacher say that he'd shoot his eye out? Or did I imagine that happening? That's part of the plot, that no one wants him to have it, it's not a good choice, etc.

She wrote that in a P.S. comment.