Hop in your way-back machine
What's better, "good" or "pretty good"?
The wife and I were going through our filing cabinet, which was starting to reach capacity. In doing so, we came across some of my old school report cards. I knew I had a handful of high school grade reports, along with a couple from elementary/grammar/grade school. The wife had taken them straight from my parents' house, so I didn't really know what was in there. Much to my surprise, the folder contained report cards and status reports dating back to PRESCHOOL. I guess my mommy was proud of her baby and kept all that stuff. Who knew?
I'll save you the details of my 3rd grade attitude problem, or my 4th - 12th grade "if only Omar fully applied himself to his studies..." reports. Blah blah blah.
Those preschool and kindergarden reports, however, I don't think I had ever read those. There was some fantastic stuff in there. I was one charming little SOB. There was one thing that I was unsure about, though. Click the following thumbnail to see the full image:
My ability to dress myself is "pretty good"? Is she making fun of me? I like to think that "pretty good" means it's between "good" and "great." But if she's making fun of me, I'll go slash her tires right now. Don't doubt me. I'm also not sure where "fine" fits in on the scale, which was my rating for Begins work/play independently.
See the full report here.
The highlight from my kindergarden report is here.
This one is dead on, because I can repeat 6-digit numbers, and I'm still not sure about the color purple. I just don't trust it.
Comments
Onj said:
Yeah, I think my mom used to have a bunch of this stuff for me too, but she went back to visit her sisters awhile back, and my dad, in one of his Henry Ford, “History is bunk!” moments went and threw it all out… or burned it… something. I don’t think I had such glowing reports though. I’m sure my potty training issues were well documented.
I have a few questions though… this whole dress issue. How and why was this a rated item? I’m pretty sure my mom dressed me back then. I don’t recall ever showing up to school naked with a pile of clothes in my arms and then being timed and judged as to how well I could dress myself. (I can’t think of another way this category could accurately be addressed and thus included on an evaluation form.)
Also, not yet singing with the rest of the class? I imagine the teacher calling everyone over for song time, and little Omar casually walks to the back of the room, lights a cigarette and calmly watches everyone else sing, coolly staring back at the teacher with each long, silent drag taken from the cigarette. How far off am I?
Also, congratulations on the high praising Kindergarten report. It sounds like you had a very meticulous teacher. I imagine her filling these forms out while listening to tape recorded notes on each student… “Omar shows an amazing ability to repeat 6 digit numbers however, he still remains unsure of the color purple… should keep an eye on that an monitor his progress. If he’s ever going to make it through first grade, we’ll have to nail down this purple issue.” I’ve got a pretty good imagination, and I’m also pretty sure it’s devastatingly accurate.
X said:
He doesn't sing the songs with the class as yet.
That's right. Omar will sing when Omar is ready.
---X
Glo said:
Not big on praise is the preschool teacher? Good. Good Omar. See Omar be good.
Sorry about you and purple...that fallout was vicious...guess you don't play/share as well as the preschool teacher thought.
Seventeen Syllables said:
X-- you read my mind; that singing evaluation is the thing that caught my eye, too.
Omar isn't one to sing with the crowd.
Cate said:
I'm confused - Is it that you didn't know the color purple, or just weren't sure about it, as in "not sure you like it"? I'm guessing you were just way ahead of Falwell on the purple-is-bad curve.
Viking054 said:
That's fun! I still have mine somewhere too. Maybe I'll put them online as well.
As for the linguistic question... I think the interpretation of "pretty good" relies a lot on suprasegmental factors. For example, if the stress is on "good" (like "That's pretty good!") it's better than good. But if "pretty" is stressed (as in "it's pretty good...") you might as well throw yourself in a dumpster and call it quits.
I said:
jon - I wonder the same thing about the ability to dress myself being something I'm rated on. I don't remember my pre-school days, but perhaps it's because I've purposely blocked it out... And re: your theory on the singing, you're almost right. I avoided the cigarettes in favor of cigars. I didn't like to inhale.
X and 17 - I wonder also about being evaluated on my singing. What does that have to do with anything, really? I was apparently skeptical about it back then, as well.
glo - I know, it's like her vocabulary needs a little work too!
cate - Tinky Winky is so gay. That's all I know.
viking - I'm going to assume the stress was on good. She liked my Osh Kosh style.
Jackie said:
well, I know on my report cards they had a little "key" at the bottom. it went
poor
needs improvement
fair
pretty good
good
great
I think your wardrobe may need some work little preschooler Omar...
Syar said:
we-eelll, were the pleated pants a feature back then as well? I'm just asking.
I have nothing against the colour purple, but your aversion to it and your not-singing-along-with-the-rest-of-the-class sounds very you. always ahead of the crowd you are, 'Mar. those kids probably never thought of questioning colours or the "need" to sing "The Wheels On The Bus Go Round and Round".
Katie said:
Why was singing important? Were you one of those kids who asked "why?" every time somebody gave you an answer? And if so, were you the one to do so just to piss everyone off? Because, you know, I beat-up kids who did that. Except I didn't, I just broke rocks with bigger rocks. Threateningly.
wendela said:
Omar: a preschool son any mom would be proud of! But that "...considerate and loving nature..." the teacher so enjoyed may be the reason the vole has triumphed.
cadiz12 said:
hello, singing is key to the whole grade school experience. especially if maracas are involved. and i'm with jackie; pretty good is "almost good." unfortunately my mother didn't use the same dictionary as i did about that, which made me think she thought i was only a so-so kid.
you still unsure about purple?
cadiz12 said:
when are we getting a new poll?
Glo said:
Whoa. Look at all the non-patriotic people who didn't even turn on the telly to support our athletes....ok...the poll is new...but 50% not viewing? That's almost enough for cancellation!
Radioactive Purple said:
I'm guessing you didn't "sing...with the class" because you sang solo. Dude! You were on the fast track for American Idol and they MISSED IT. I'd sue.
I don't know about you but when *I* went to school, my shoes matched. This is no longer true; as usual "past performance does not guarantee future" etc. So I'd not worry too much about that Pretty Good / Good thing.
As for your being unsure of color purple, what makes you think the teacher's remark is anything but high praise?
Viking054 said:
"I'm going to assume the stress was on good. She liked my Osh Kosh style."
I hope so. This site wouldn't be half as fun if you had to run it from a dumpster!
jasmine said:
i DEF think it's time for an audiopost to prove to the whole world that, yes, indeed omar can now sing with the group.
on three! one...two...
jasmine said:
am i the only one who thought the kindergarten report was fake?
what kindergartener is using six digit numbers?