Pass Failing Grading System: Is It Passing?

As a Curriculum Coach, I facilitate professional development for teachers based on the needs of our staff and students. After spending time observing classrooms and meeting with teachers, I realized that we needed to examine our current grading practices. Our current practices focus too much on grading effort and behaviors, and not enough on measuring understanding of specific learning targets. As a result, our students and teachers focus on turning in assignments, instead of learning. If ask why a student is failing, the most common response is “he is not turning in his work”. Teachers are unable to communicate which specific learning targets the students are missing, because the grades are distorted by student behaviors. When making decisions about placement in honors courses, it is difficult to determine which students have the knowledge necessary to move into an advanced course because their grades are clouded by effort and

The grading system benefitted me in the way that we had opportunities to do other activities other than doing all of them. I personally do not do well in front of a crowd of people, so the performance was automatically out of the picture for myself but, because of the options I was still able to find points in other areas of the class. I happened to learn a lot through both the learning logs and presenting the making a case. Additionally, the extra learning activities we were given the opportunity to do, helped me learn in a very interesting way. The learning activity that asked about production notes made me think and learn in a very different way than I am used to. I am not too knowledgeable about individuals that usually play in movies so I had to do some research to decide who I thought could be the perfect fit for the

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.

It did not help me in the end because I never got to know the material and learn from it. If all schools were to lessen the grading system to just pass or fail classes, more students would most likely be able to become better learners and be able to focus more on their studies than trying to keep up a good grade.

In “A Proposal to Abolish Grading” Paul Goodman suggests grading students is only setting them up for failure. He states, “a student will retain nothing of what he has “passed” in.” Goodman believes that students shouldn’t be tested for a grade, “but for his own advantage” so the student isn 't just “trying to get by” he will actually be encouraged to learn the material. Grades and testing have been around for over a century. Every American has had some kind of schooling in their life. As a student, I’ve always entered a new class with the mindset that I need to pass that class, hardly ever have I thought, “I need to learn as much as I can in this class.” So why should the system that educators believe works and have used for so long change? The American education system values grades and test scores more than students value learning.

The Credit System is a positive way that could change the way students learn. However it is not a realistic notion that all education systems will change to this method of learning. For example, what if a student only passes some of their classes associated with their grade level. Would the seniors graduate? How would educators determine what a “passing” grade is?

First and foremost, letter grades have been used since the 19th century without any complications. “The traditional grading scale is universally recognized. Virtually everyone knows that earning an A is good while earning an F is associated with failure. The traditional grading scale is easy to interpret and understand. The simplistic nature of the system makes it user-friendly for teachers, students, and parents. It also allows for a direct comparison from one student to another within a specific class” (Meador). Ultimately, parents remember and understand the letter grading system. It's easy to be happy that their child earned an

Ferber’s credit system is better than the grading system. The credit system will allow students to worry less and focus more on their work. Rather than constantly worrying about what grade they are going to get students will be able to do their work with ease, allowing them to feel less stressed. Students may learn more if they are not graded. Since grades are not being pounded down the student's throat, that student is not doing the work to get a good grade. The credit system will also help those who are unable to pass a course, this is because the failed class will not affect the student's’ transcript..

Alfie Kohn discussed many 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 such as, portfolios or narratives. Kohn goes into detail about why our current grading system is flawed. Grades can cause students to lose interest in learning, this 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,

“What Our Education System Needs Is More F’s” written by Carl Singleton argues that our education system needs to enforce more failing grades to students who have not fully learned the required material. He believes that handing out failing grades in copious amounts to students will overall fix the issue of illiterate students among high schools and colleges along with draw attention to this issue and engage parents into their child's education. This argument could be fairly but is poorly executed and lacks valid evidence and supporting claims. Singleton fails to provide accurate benefits of this grading system he feels should be implemented. Carl Singleton overall expresses his concern of the grading systems deterioration and that the education system is not enforcing enough failing grades to students who have not fully mastered required material.

Flunking a student does not always motivate them into doing better academically in school. Passing a student on when they do not know the material can hurt them but threatening them with failure can hurt them mentally. In high school there was always that one kid that acted like he or she could care less about school but when they would ask for help the teacher would tell them they

While failing students may work for a portion of them, that does not mean it will works for all. In the article “In Praise of The F Word”, Michelle Sherry, a teacher and published author references the positives of failing students. One flaw she made was ignoring the negatives of failing students. In this upcoming quote, Sherry argues that failing students motivates and helps students rise above their classroom behaviors. She also argues that the only way to get students to work hard is to throw “the trump card of failure” at them. Sherry “most kids don't put school first on their list unless they perceive something is at stake.” In simpler terms, she’s assuming that students are not at their best unless threatened by the “F” word which is

First, it motivates students to learn and teaches responsibility. If a student gets a bad grade that means they won’t be able to participate in their extra school activity for a period of time. This motivated students to get good grades and work harder in school. As my coaches say to me, student comes before athlete. The rule of getting bad grades means that you can’t participate or the “No Pass, No play” rule, builds responsibility, your responsible for your future and what you want to do with it. You’re responsible to get good grades and your reward is your extracurricular classes. It’s like chores, you work and then you get allowance. Extracurricular classes are a privilege to work for.

Let us start by considering this: Awarding students higher grades helps to develop more self-esteem and greater feelings of pride if they have something to work for. Whereas if they are continuously receiving low grades this could lead to pupils thinking they’re not ‘good enough’ or ‘smart enough.’

Failing a quiz, test, or even a class bring reality into their line of sight. It helps them to learn that it is time to become responsible, and that it is time to take the steps to become an adult. Every student will fail in some way, it is inevitable. I am not saying it is an impending doom, but it will happen. It might not mean failing a class, but can be growing a part in a friendship, putting on that freshman fifteen, compromising your morals, or hitting the snooze button one too many times. Everyone will fail in different ways, but most will find a valuable lesson to