“A mark indicating a degree of accomplishment in school”, is the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of the school-term grade. This is what grades have become; a silent competition of who can achieve a higher score. But is this really the most effective way to think about grades?
American poet Ross Gay, author of various collections of poems such as Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, stated his take on grades with, “Grades are… a discouragement from actual learning…. Grades seem to me to be, in addition to the useless competition, about teaching obedience and compliance. The content of the class, whatever the class is, is incidental to the subject: following the rules or taking orders. Or being good. Being Good 101. Being a Good, Stackable Unit 101.” Briefly, Gay explains how he sees grades to be more about learning the material and acting upon it, versus the actual product. In this sense, I agree with Gay. Many of us students unconsciously study for the grade, versus the material itself. This tactic gives us a short-term memory of that information but causes us to forget most of it in the long term.
I do, however, believe grades are important. As Gay mentioned, grades can hold students accountable for their own learning, and make them take responsibility for it. In my opinion, the best way to get a bigger view of one’s understanding in a class is to look at their grade. Like in sports, the best way to tell which team did better is by looking at who won. If a student got all A’s in a class, it’s fair to say that they understood the main ideas of the class. But it’s also the micro view that I think deserves more value. Obviously, the context of a situation is vital, but one should not base their own understanding entirely on the grades one gets. Getting an A on a test may not always make one “smarter” than a peer who got a C. What should also be taken into consideration is who is able to explain the topic thoroughly to someone that doesn’t know it, or who has a better understanding of it long after the initial test.
In an article for Harvard Business Publishing titled, “Why Focusing on Grades is a Barrier to Learning”, educator Gerald E. Knesek shared his experience with students and grades. He wrote, “When I encounter students after they have graduated, they almost always remember what grade they received in my class; yet when I ask about what concepts they learned, they hesitate before answering.” He goes on to explain how the current one hundred-point standard grading system limits students from taking the time to learn a subject due to the fear of potential failure. Later in the article, he explains how he uses a Pass or Fail (P/F) system to grade his students on. He believes this system encourages learning and mistakes, as well as creativity in a classroom environment. While it may be hard to put this type of system into every classroom setting, I feel this idea of having students focus more on learning versus grades can help promote focusing on the journey of learning, instead of just the destination.
In addition, grades shouldn’t be the reason for stress, lack of motivation, and other related negative feelings. Many well-known names that have made a mark in the world didn’t always have the easiest time in school. Thomas Edison was kicked out of school at the age of twelve, for not being able to concentrate, and not doing well in math class. Richard Branson, owner of many music labels and a man who has flown to space, dropped out of school in his teenage years. While these two didn’t excel in school, they both became extremely successful in the end. Now, I don’t recommend dropping out of school, because it’s not easy to do what these two did, but I’m saying that you don’t need to constantly fret over your grades to be successful later in life.
Grades are reflected differently, depending on the person. Above all, they should not fully reflect one’s accomplishments. Pushing yourself to get the highest grades you can is important, but retaining that information afterward is even more important. New topics about various subjects are always being introduced, and perhaps it’s time that we all start to focus a little less on accomplishment, and more on how we can all improve our learning and ourselves.