Catcher In The Rye

Traditional grading system will be my focus of this essay. Grading as numbers or letters, a conventional way of assessing

The American education system has not changed drastically since the 1900s. In the early 1900’s before grading, teachers were expected to communicate in depth to their students on how they were doing in the class. This worked well for small groups and individual tutoring. The ability for this information to be passed on to those who were not involved with the learning process, such as employers and parents was limited. By the mid 20th century schools changed drastically as they introduced grades in the form of letters. The American schools now became more standardized as A, B, C, D and F represented ones grade. Depending what percentage a student received determined letter they got. An example is an A is a mark of 90-100%

Alfie Kohn discussed multiple fabulous points in his article, “Degrading to De-Grading”. The author suggests more effective ways to assess students’ progress other than numerical or letter grades. Kohn goes into detail about why our current grading system is flawed. Grades can cause students to lose interest in learning which causes them to stop taking challenges. If students are not engaged and interested than they are not retaining the information they are being taught. The grading system can also cause students to develop unhealthy competition with one another for instance, “I got a better grade than you!”. Indeed, grades are a wonderful concept, but they tend to be more hurtful than helpful. In some cases, grades can have positive effects on students. For example, setting goals for various assignments, or receiving help where they are struggling. Though, there are alternatives that could make positive changes in the system.

In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield’s story is seemingly aimless and without any sense of direction. However, Salinger brings the novel into focus in the final chapters by introducing the idea of being the “Catcher in the Rye” from the poem by Robert Burns. Salinger chose the name “Catcher in the Rye” for the title of his novel, but why? The answer is that Salinger wanted to emphasize the connection between Holden, the main character, and the cryptic “Catcher.” Holden confesses his desire to Pheobe of becoming a “Catcher,” but Holden’s definition of this role is slightly lacking. It can be seen through Holden and his actions what it truly means to be a Catcher. In the text, the Catcher is meant to save people from going over the fictitious cliff that Holden imagines, so, it can be inferred that a Catcher is a savior of others and exhibits the qualities of control and bravery. Holden is also speaking figuratively about protecting the innocence of people, thus, saving people from going over the cliff represents saving them from falling from grace. Beyond this, Holden strives to be the Catcher and by the end of the novel, it is apparent that his attitude reflects this desire. What this means is that Holden tries to imitate the demeanor of the Catcher. Holden also mirrors his new temperament in his behavior throughout the story. The desire to be the Catcher in the Rye shows the audience how Holden is an altruistic being who attempts to use his qualities

Michael Thomsen argues against the A-F grading system in his essay “The Case Against Grades.” Thomsen even goes as far to say that the A-F grading system is to blame for the difficulty in reforming American education (1). He supports his conclusion with a few thought-provoking studies and statistics, but overall there are holes in his argument and he does not offer a realistic alternative. Thus, I disagree with Thomsen’s conclusion as I think that the A-F grading system is currently the best method for the United States to use.

Letter grades have been used for centuries. However, should we keep using them? Many people in our world today believe they are a nuiscance, while others argue that the system’s long life only proves it’s competence. Although many may argue against it, letter grades are a thing of the past and should be discarded in order to clear a path for the future.

    It's June, and another graduating class is hoping, among other things, to achieve high grades. Of course, "high" is a subjective target. Originally a "C" meant average; today however, the expectations and pressures to give and receive "A's" and "B's" takes its toll on teachers and students alike. This nullifies the value of the traditional grading scale and creates a host of entirely new problems. The widespread occurrence of grade inflation seriously affects the credibility of secondary and post-secondary education in America.

The grading system was made, for student to pass or fail. This, of course, is absurd. What we need is a system that do not judge a student work. Put your all in your work just to see a teacher put a failing grade on your work. When student fail some dropout of school, and become another negative static. How would you feel if someone you knew personnel, dropout school because they felt like was just getting harder everyday? Do you want to see your students succeed, and become successful?

“It emphasizes competition and learning, not learning.” Glenda Potts, author of the article, “A Simple Alternative to Grading”, spoke of the traditional grading system. Potts argues that the current ABCDF grading scale is “flawed” and “hard to communicate” because it does not provide a full critique of a student's work in order for them to improve, only a number or letter grade. Because of this, it is easy for a student to adopt the mentality that they cannot do any better. Patricia Scriffiny, author of ‘Seven Reasons or Standards Based Grading’ agrees with this opinion, adding that traditional grades have no true meaning, and cannot prove a true analysis of what the student may or may not know.

If you re all want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is when I was born. By to be honest right know that's the last thing I care about, I usually don't even care about anything all I really care about is my family. First I will start by telling you about me, well I am from New York and I am 16 years old, I also attend a private school it's called Percy prep it sucks and that's probably why I'm failing almost all subjects. Anyways today I was thinking about the homework that Mr.Spencer gave me, it was about a project that I needed to write a paper about someone that was special to me and why they were special. I wanted to go write about my brother Allie he's the best you will meet him when I go home for Christmas,

In “The Dangerous Myth of Grade Inflation,” Alfie Kohn sets out to determine if grade inflation is indeed fact or fiction. The opening quotes provided by two professors at Harvard University separated by over century has most definitely peaked my interest. It had me questioning whether or not these professors are holding our education system to a “Harvard” standard or is their actually truth to their statements; that feigned students are indeed submitting “sham work” (Bergmann, 260). Kohn goes onto indicate that: “To say that grades are not merely rising but inflated—and that they are consequently ‘less accurate’ now, as the American Academy’s report puts it-is to postulate the existence of an objectively correct evaluation of what a student (or essay) deserves” (Bergmann, 263). To theorize grade-inflation is to question the judgment and teaching of all the previous and future educators of America. It also raises the question of why has not there any concert data to support this claim. Why is our educational system delaying this investigation since this concern has been around for years? Especially, now that grade inflation is starting to gain more momentum.

Experienced the letter grading system since early elementary school, it is important not just to accept the system but to take a closer look at the system.

So, according to Alfie Kohn, letter grades are harmful, and “The best teachers and schools replace grades (and grade-like reports) with narrative reports – qualitative accounts of student performance – or, better yet, conferences with students and parents.” Sure, your parents know what you’re excelling in and falling behind in, and so do you, but Traditional Grading gives it to you straight, just, you are doing well, or you are doing poorly.

In education, grading is defined as the process of applying standardized measurements of varying levels of achievement in a course. Letter grades have been firmly in place since at least 1913 and they are the most common type of grading system that is in use today. Teachers need to continue using letter grades as opposed to alternative grading methods; consequently, if letter grades were abolished students wouldn't be evaluated fairly and it may result in a lack of effort by the students.

A traditional grading system benefits the students by helping them be more successful in school and future careers. It offers a worldwide rubric to determine and compare the student’s progress with ease. Receiving good grades in return for hard work provides the