<p>ohne,</p>
<p>Grades are definitely debateable. Ideally, we would not need grades. Even in this un-ideal world I sometimes wonder if we would be better off with grades. There are some schools that try it I think; you could check how it went for them. I'm too lazy to look! :) </p>
<p>It depends on why a person learns. It reminds me of my psych reading about morals and the different levels:
1st level - consequence or reward guides behavior and choices
2nd level - how you feel others judge you, community rules and expectations guide your choices
3rd level - self directed morals, you act according to your personal logically achieved morals (not culturally or socially imposed)</p>
<p>My ap psych class taught these levels (essentially) and made the point that not everyone reaches the latter levels. Many are stuck at the first and many the second. Grades in effect can become markers for consequences or rewards. Thus, they can impel people to work harder, etc. (Granted, the psych explanation was referring to morals. I think it is somewhat applicable here, though.) In fact, I would say at least half of the students in my school do what work they do because of the consequences of not doing so (not passing, parents chewing out for bad grades, grades not high enough for sports, etc).</p>
<p>There is another section of people that work hard because they don't want to let down their parents and teachers. Or these people work because they automatically accept that it is the "right" thing to do since that is what people say. They accept social imposed standards. I guess you could argue this both ways. They would probably work either way, though it would be easier to slack and not be noticed if there were not grades.</p>
<p>Finally, at the last level, you would decide for yourself why you are learning. You would work if you felt it was right. You would bypass the effort if you did not feel it was right. Grades don't matter as much as learning to people here, though they may to an extent. You don't need any incentive or any threat to work. You want it for yourself.</p>
<p>So, hmmm I know this is kind of a ramble. But I was just thinking about how this related to the psych stuff I read last unit. All in all, I don't think I'd change my habits much if we didn't have grades. Yet, I do think many would. Also, I enjoy having grades as a type of wager of how I am doing. And, sadly yes it is somewhat necessary when students must be compared. And yes comparison and competition is a fact of life. </p>
<p>Also, it may work not to have grades, but I think if we dropped the grading system initially people would really slack, at least at the high school level. Now, in elementry school I don't know if grades are very useful. It's sad if grades at that level make a kid feel like they have limits. Phew....</p>