Schools and universities were intended for expanding our knowledge on a topic we are passionate about, instead they are used to convey to us that “real learning” is based around memorization and an off-take on motivation. Grades are relevant only because humans-as well as other animals, like dogs, for instance-are addicted to praise from their teachers, or “masters.” Much like dogs, we obey commands. We understand that ill behavior means punishment, except the punishment we receive is a meaningless letter that can determine our success in the adult world. Professor Jerry Farber explains in his essay “A Young Person's Guide to the Grading System” that grades take the fun out of learning something, teach us to have a fake belief of what motivation
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I firmly agree with Farber’s stance on the harshly imperfect grading system.
In Farber’s assessment of the grading system, he states the flaws and then offers another way of showing someone's worth. Farber states that yes, academic success is valuable, but “we measure not in knowledge but in grade points.” Farber states that he believes satisfactory grades are achieved only because of our want to please our teachers; grades are simply a game that gets reset at the end of every term or semester. Farber questions that at the end of the year, who reads textbooks after all the grades are in? He argues that “when we get to college, twelve years of slave work” has most of convinced that learning is dull and unpalatable. He argues that “we’ve been prodded with phony motivations so long that we’ve become insensitive to the true ones.” This statement, furthermore shows the amount of passion he has for this cause. He backs up the previous statement by saying: “…convinced we’d never …show more content…
The grading system doesn't help learning and it hurts students. Grades make people stressed out and make them fear if they are doing good enough. A person's passion can be lost because of grades; it simply becomes less fun. The credit system is a good alternative to the current grading system. There is far less stress and a person can simply slow down and take time to enjoy what they are being taught. The Board of Education needs to reform the grading system to help students be more motivated and successful in
I firmly agree with Farber’s stance on the harshly imperfect grading system.
In Farber’s assessment of the grading system, he states the flaws and then offers another way of showing someone's worth. Farber states that yes, academic success is valuable, but “we measure not in knowledge but in grade points.” Farber states that he believes satisfactory grades are achieved only because of our want to please our teachers; grades are simply a game that gets reset at the end of every term or semester. Farber questions that at the end of the year, who reads textbooks after all the grades are in? He argues that “when we get to college, twelve years of slave work” has most of convinced that learning is dull and unpalatable. He argues that “we’ve been prodded with phony motivations so long that we’ve become insensitive to the true ones.” This statement, furthermore shows the amount of passion he has for this cause. He backs up the previous statement by saying: “…convinced we’d never …show more content…
The grading system doesn't help learning and it hurts students. Grades make people stressed out and make them fear if they are doing good enough. A person's passion can be lost because of grades; it simply becomes less fun. The credit system is a good alternative to the current grading system. There is far less stress and a person can simply slow down and take time to enjoy what they are being taught. The Board of Education needs to reform the grading system to help students be more motivated and successful in