“When will I use this?” “Is this a grade?” “When is this due?” These are all things every student, parent, and teacher has heard. While these questions may seem like a student is slacking, I believe it is far from that. Under our current grading system, students nationwide are categorized and graded based on a rubric that every student must properly follow. Guess what!?! Not all students are the same. In what world does every student in a class go into the same profession? It’s impossible! Every student thinks differently and shouldn’t be limited by what is required, but should be graded by what is expected.
What are grades?
If you’ve ever lived, which most people reading this have, you know what grades are. Not only do you know, but boy do your parents know. We’ve all had that text or walk of shame by our parents. Is it our fault for failing though? It’s easy to say yes, but what if I told you it’s not completely our fault? The current grading system works like this: We have an assignment, there are questions, there is a rubric, and we complete it in a certain amount of time. It is from then on up to the teacher to determine what you made on that assignment. The grade given from that teacher will now be on your record for the rest of your life. Little does the teacher know, the assignment that was just given was the most underexplained and pointless paper of all time. “Better luck next time,” is all they’ll say.
Why does the grading system not work?
The idea of a number based grading system completely diminishes the ambiguities and creativeness of students. If you’re graded on how well you follow the rubric, why would anyone want to try something different? The easiest way and bare minimum route to get an A is always the preferred method. This completely disregards the emotions and point of views that students want to express. Furthermore, students’ passions are completely stripped away. Why should anyone be forced to write something that they have no interest in? It gets no where and establishes a poor piece of writing. No wonder students hate school.
What can be done?
One of the best ways to educate a child is through a mastery-based education. In this system, there is no failing. Students can work on their own time and master a skill in which they believe is best for them. Once they master it, they can move on. There is no failing, but being behind. Another good fix a live feedback system. In this system, students are given constructive criticism by their professor or teacher. In this, students aren’t being given a bad grade for what they did, but an opportunity to do better the next time. Usually, a student is given a bad grade on a paper and that assignment is thrown into the bottom of a bookbag. How does that help? There is no worse feeling that receiving back a test that you failed. You can’t even remember what was on the test; you just know that you failed.
The Golden Thread 
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