Article Analysis: The Case Against Grades From Slate

America’s school systems have taken a turn for the worst and as I read the article “The Case Against Grades” from Slate.com that “SAT reading scores are at a 40 year low, and one study ranked the U.S 17th in education” (Thomsen). These statistics have proved that our school systems are now and have been for a while facing a need for change for the sake of the students. Many reasons have transpired and many people hold their own opinions on the culprit. However, there is such an immense amount of pressure put on students and letter grading is a huge problem with the pressure in our school systems. Putting pressure on all students by labelling their work with a letter grade (A-F) can cause more harm than good. Consequently, limiting students

Just as, Lahey explains in her article “Letter grades communicate precious little about the process of learning in a given subject.” For example, you can write an essay and not fully comprehend how to form a thesis, but do well with the topic, organizing and research and with letter grading you’ll get, lets say, a B. However, that’s not helping you focus on essential skills that need to be learned, such as your thesis. Letter grading in the end is cheating the students of the knowledge they need to excel. Some people have fears of testing, resulting in them obtaining a poor grade, but they could very well understand the work and due to fear and anxiety they fail the tests. Grades have been in our system for many years now and are intended to represent and communicate how well a student is doing in a specific class. Unfortunately, this is not a sufficient way of determining a students knowledge and ability to perform or retain their work. As stated in TheAtlantic.com “Points based grading undermines learning and creativity, rewards cheating, damages students’ peer relationships and trust in their teachers, encourages students to avoid challenging work, and teaches students to value grades over knowledge” (qtd. In

As Lahey points out that there is currently, 45 states that have started using the common core system, an easier way to determine and translate the profiency of a students work throughout the school year. I agree this system is an approach to a better and more efficient way of grading, however the common core is forcing much more work and timed testing, causing anxiety. Currently, my daughter is a first grader at a school that has adopted the common core and I have found the overload of work put on these small children is daunting. Consequently, the pressure posed on my daughter in her first two years of her education has caused her to form some OCD behavior and anxiety of school. She cries if she doesn’t get through her homework quick enough in fear that her teacher will be mad if she doesn’t complete it. Yes, the report cards are clearer for the parents with this system and shows what area of skills need more work, but the pressure and amount of work is to much. Especially for young kids , a new approach is