Through the history and evolution of education, mentors have struggled over the best way to challenge their students to reach their peak. Although there are countless methods that have been debated and finessed, the use of the traditional grading scale seems to be a large source of current disputes. Some teachers argue that such a fixed system of testing and ordering pits students against each other, creating an air of competition that should not exist in the classroom. It gives a child a number and tells them how “good” they are. Other educators say that this is not necessarily detrimental. Students need this information to know which areas they should improve upon or whether their time would be better spent elsewhere.
For centuries, the world has been using grades as a means to determine the academic prowess of students. What began in 18th century English universities as a competition ranking system, was mimicked by the United States and turned into a numerical scale ranging from zero to four that determined final evaluations (Schneider, 2013). Use of the system continued to grow until it was common practice for …show more content…
New and different methods are constantly being attempted. Sioux City schools in Iowa use a four point scale, but are thinking that a five point scale may be a more accurate measure (Forbes, 2015). School systems are pressured not only find the best way to grade students but also to grade schools. The majority of US schools are graded on an A-F scale (which has its problems) but some use more unorthodox systems. Some schools in Michigan use a color scale, but because it can be hard to determine ability based off of a color, they are considering changing this. North Carolina schools are also looking to change their approach – what was a 15 point grading scale (scores between 85 and 100 earned an ‘A’) is going to become the more well-known 10 point
For centuries, the world has been using grades as a means to determine the academic prowess of students. What began in 18th century English universities as a competition ranking system, was mimicked by the United States and turned into a numerical scale ranging from zero to four that determined final evaluations (Schneider, 2013). Use of the system continued to grow until it was common practice for …show more content…
New and different methods are constantly being attempted. Sioux City schools in Iowa use a four point scale, but are thinking that a five point scale may be a more accurate measure (Forbes, 2015). School systems are pressured not only find the best way to grade students but also to grade schools. The majority of US schools are graded on an A-F scale (which has its problems) but some use more unorthodox systems. Some schools in Michigan use a color scale, but because it can be hard to determine ability based off of a color, they are considering changing this. North Carolina schools are also looking to change their approach – what was a 15 point grading scale (scores between 85 and 100 earned an ‘A’) is going to become the more well-known 10 point