Kohn’s article “The Case against Grades” (Kohn, 2011) effectively captures the anxiety that most students have about grades. “In fact, students would be a lot better off without either of these relics from a less enlightened age” (Kohn, 2011) Kohn writes. I agree with Kohn’s position in this article because there were many days in high school where I remember skipping due to the fact that I didn’t fully understand what was being taught to me. I, in turn, grew anxious about not being good enough and started failing. Growing up in a strict German household, I was taught to be perfect. No one is perfect and because of that I started not caring. I no longer wanted to learn, so my grades slipped. Over the years, asking for help got easier because
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“Grades tend to reduce the quality of students’ thinking. They may skim books for what they’ll need to know. They’re less likely to wonder, say, “How can this be true?”” (Kohn, 2011) When book reports were given out, I thought I was so smart because I chose the book that didn’t have seven hundred pages. I had chosen a book with three hundred pages. When it came time to sit and read my book I couldn’t because I didn’t understand what I was reading. When I was writing my book report, every so often I would throw in things that I made up or thought was relevant. If I had actually read what I was reading, I would have known, I was wrong. When Kohn stated that if students know beforehand that they would be graded, they are more than likely to chose a book with less reading time (Kohn, 2011.) I agree with Kohn because I remember doing book reports in high school and not reading the entire book and only marginally passing because I didn’t apply myself. If I actually read the book and took the time to understand what I was reading, I would have been fine. It’s unfortunate that I’m not the only one that feels this …show more content…
I think it has a lot of worth to it for many reasons. Most students get anxious when being tested or marked for grades. I took a computer course in 2004 and it was a pass/fail course. I would go into the computer lab and open what I was supposed to learn for that day and when I finished the module I would take a mini test. This computer course was amazing because I never knew what my mark was and because of that I wasn’t stressed or anxious about school. At the end of the course I had received a pass and I was happy about that. A pass/fail system eliminates the need for a GPA which, in my opinion, would cause less stress, anxiety, and cheating from scared students.
In the end, what I think really matters is understanding what you are supposed to be studying and learning. If you are able to apply what you’ve learned to your life or work, then you have succeeded. If I get an “B-” instead of that elusive “A+,” I will be fine. I’m not who I used to be and now understanding slowly is more important to me. My grades will reflect what I actually learn. Striving for perfection, as I was taught as a child, is no longer normal. I wish I could go back in time and tell my teenage self, that mistakes will be made and your life will be hard but, you will make
“Grades tend to reduce the quality of students’ thinking. They may skim books for what they’ll need to know. They’re less likely to wonder, say, “How can this be true?”” (Kohn, 2011) When book reports were given out, I thought I was so smart because I chose the book that didn’t have seven hundred pages. I had chosen a book with three hundred pages. When it came time to sit and read my book I couldn’t because I didn’t understand what I was reading. When I was writing my book report, every so often I would throw in things that I made up or thought was relevant. If I had actually read what I was reading, I would have known, I was wrong. When Kohn stated that if students know beforehand that they would be graded, they are more than likely to chose a book with less reading time (Kohn, 2011.) I agree with Kohn because I remember doing book reports in high school and not reading the entire book and only marginally passing because I didn’t apply myself. If I actually read the book and took the time to understand what I was reading, I would have been fine. It’s unfortunate that I’m not the only one that feels this …show more content…
I think it has a lot of worth to it for many reasons. Most students get anxious when being tested or marked for grades. I took a computer course in 2004 and it was a pass/fail course. I would go into the computer lab and open what I was supposed to learn for that day and when I finished the module I would take a mini test. This computer course was amazing because I never knew what my mark was and because of that I wasn’t stressed or anxious about school. At the end of the course I had received a pass and I was happy about that. A pass/fail system eliminates the need for a GPA which, in my opinion, would cause less stress, anxiety, and cheating from scared students.
In the end, what I think really matters is understanding what you are supposed to be studying and learning. If you are able to apply what you’ve learned to your life or work, then you have succeeded. If I get an “B-” instead of that elusive “A+,” I will be fine. I’m not who I used to be and now understanding slowly is more important to me. My grades will reflect what I actually learn. Striving for perfection, as I was taught as a child, is no longer normal. I wish I could go back in time and tell my teenage self, that mistakes will be made and your life will be hard but, you will make