Group Projects
Kill me. Today I got the news that tomorrow I’ll be paired randomly with another person from my social class for the huge term project, which includes research, assembly of a poster or something more creative if the group so chooses, and a presentation. It is not the work that makes me bitter about the whole thing. It’s the fact that I’ll most likely end up doing it all on my own due to an incompetent partner.
I have yet to discover why teachers insist on picking random groups for us to do projects with. Every single time this happens, I am put with a person with either a single digit IQ or worse, someone who simply does not care about the class whatsoever. I am stuck doing all the work, and they will get the same mark as me for doing nothing. So far, my teachers have defended this practise by saying that some kids won’t just get the project done unless they’re with a “responsible student”. Know what I say to that? That is their problem, not mine. When they’re paired with a responsible student, they still won’t get the project done. I will get it done. They will sit on their butt and watch me.
Letting partners choose each other is the way to go. Although, even that route has its cons. I’ve done my share of group projects. I’ve noticed three main types of partnerships:
a) Arrogant Person A forces, blackmails or simply begs Smart Person A to pair up with them. Arrogant Person A does no work and ends up with the same ninety percent as Smart Person A, who earned the whole mark themselves, giving up their weekend to do so. This is my situation about 5% of the time. This is the situation I hate with all my being and wish could be abolished somehow.
b) Smart Person A pairs up with Friend A. Smart Person A does 60-70% of the work, but is alright with that because Friend A makes a fair attempt to help them out and the pair has a fun time working on the project because, newsflash, they’re friends. This is my situation about 70% of the time. This is the situation that I don’t mind as long as it’s not all the time.
c) Smart Person A pairs up with Smart Person B. They share the work AND the ninety percent, giving up their Saturday afternoon to do so, but they give it up together. This is my situation about 25% of the time. This is the situation that I think should be the only situation, but to my utter distaste, is not.
I could be wrong here. I could somehow beat the astronomical odds and end up paired with Sarah or Lesley. But to look at my social class, it doesn’t look good that I’ll be put with someone who cares about the class, or school at all for that matter. I was not pleased when my teacher told us this. When the bell rang, I felt a strong urge to whine and not stop, but all I said to Sarah was, ‘I’m going to have to do this whole thing myself.’ Teacher overheard. ‘Oh, fear not! You get to fill out a partner evaluation form! If they did nothing to help you, you can say so!’
Putting, “Partner did jack” on that evaluation sheet will not give me back the time I spent doing their half of the project.
“I am ticked and have a great backhand. Sorry, did you have something to say?”
