Yes, people may ask, “Why do we need letter grades? Students are
still learning without them.” Letter grades may be essential for you but needless
for others. A new grading system was created in U of T, the argument of if the
system is necessary has presented. So ask yourself. Do we really need letter
grades? Here is the problem, benefits, losses, and how I see it.
University of Toronto spent two years studying on how to reduce students’
stress about marks. They came to a point which they could be the first school
in Canada to substitute the traditional letter grading system to a wider range
of pass and fail. The University of Toronto Law faculty wants to change; they
want a system with categories consisting: High Honours, Honours, Pass, Low
Pass, and Fail. Few law schools in United States like Stanford and Yale already
used a similar system.
According to teachers and leaders of U of T this new grading system can reduce student’s anxiety over their marks. Instead of students worrying if the information is going to be on a test, they want to provide a space in which there is no pressure and students can actually understand more deeply on their learning. From their point of view, their idea is students will learn better without any pressure of marks.
Here is another question asked among people who disagrees with this
idea, “Does this new system really reduce students’ stress?” This new system is
just like the traditional grading system, but with more considerate names. A+
and A to the High Honours, B and C+ to Honours etc… Students are not stressed
over the grading system but over their process in school. It does not matter
how you change the grading system, students will continue to stress about their
grades as long as they are getting a poor mark. Watch the video
First put aside my opinion of the new system, it might be very difficult just to carry out this new system. It is hard to say if any school in Canada is going to follow this new grading system. Honestly, I think the new grading system is unnecessary. Students need a little bit of pressure in order to do well in school, a motivation. I like the traditional system better because you can atleast know more specifically about where your skills and participation in class are at. However this new system cannot tell you precisely where you are at, it is an “about” range. I will be stressed if I get D or F in school but I will also be stressed if I get a low pass or a fail. They are somewhat the same thing, so I think it is pointless to change the system.
Sites I used:
Nice job for a first post! You included lots of information that many of us didn't know and specific opinions of teachers and others.This post made me start thinking a little. I also wouldn't want to change the grading system because having specific letter grades along with teacher comments pin points what we are doing well and what we can work on. Remember to avoid "I thinks" and "My opinions" in your concluding paragraph.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your posting!
ReplyDeleteI agree that changing the grading system will not make much of a difference, but I believe there is a better grading system than either of them. Giving letter grades or the broader categories is only thinking of how to relieve pressure from students. But let me ask this one question : It it not pressure that keeps us from following our lazy nature? Humans, rich or poor, smart or dumb, handsome/beautiful or ugly, all have a nature to be lazy. It is sometimes our own will that conquers this instinct, but most of the times, it is others who pressure you to keep going. Like the times when your parents call you up to go to school, like the times that your parents told you to do your homework.... All these examples prove that we, humans, need outside pressure/help to improve and succeed. When schools give out letter grades, a big part of your skill level is actually hidden through the big range of one single letter grade. It ignores some important things that only a percentage can reveal. You could be getting a 10% difference with another student but still get the same letter grade. Think about this 10%. This 10% may very well be the deciding factor of your future. This 10% may be the difference between becoming a successful businessman or a moving company worker. So I, myself, disagree with either of these rankings. I would prefer that schools give out percentages.
Overall, you did a really good post. And just like Emily said, Avoid the "I thinks" and "In my opinions in the concluding paragraph.