Introduction
Grades reduce children’s interest in what they are learning. The assessment orientation principle is not equal to the “knowledge orientation” principle; in addition, several studies demonstrate the negative impact of assessments on motivation. Grades force students to choose more straightforward tasks. As a result, being frightened by poor grades, students will try to avoid difficulties and concentrate on more manageable tasks.
In other words, grades limit the desire to learn more and get to the bottom of things. However, this skill is vital to a successful career in today’s ever-changing world. It is also worth noting that abolishing the assessment system will reduce student stress. Such changes improve the psychological climate of learning, reduce inequality, and contribute to forming a more confident population.
Drawbacks of Traditional Grading
However, exercising the traditional grading system has a number of disadvantages. The main disadvantage is the low level of responsibility for training (Esquivel, 2021). The educational process prepares a person for life in a society where failure to fulfill one’s duties is fraught with consequences. On the other hand, learning to take responsibility can be realized within family relationships.
The school’s main task is to instill a love for knowledge and prepare students for lifelong learning. The traditional assessment system inflicts substantial psychological and social pressure, making learning unpleasant. Therefore, revising the assessment system is critical in modern conditions, when society especially appreciates people’s psychological health.
Thus, the traditional pricing system makes people afraid of their abilities, which sadly affects the further construction of people’s lives. The traditional grading system should be changed to be more flexible. This will minimize class and racial gaps, prevent students from emotional trauma, and help them fall in love with the learning process (Esquivel, 2021). Preserving the traditional model in the form in which it currently exists is irrational. It is necessary to change the approach seriously or introduce a new assessment system.
Lessons from the Pandemic
The pandemic has allowed teachers to see how difficult it is for students to learn independently. In connection with the need for a complete home study, it became apparent that the conditions for obtaining this information are different among students (Esquivel, 2021). As a result, many teachers have begun to question how important it is to focus on student assessment as part of the in-class learning process.
Many schools are eliminating fixed deadlines for submitting assignments (Esquivel, 2021). Some intra-class practices have also changed, focusing on getting the teacher an idea of the child’s level of interest in the educational process. However, the most significant change occurred in the minds of teachers. Seeing the difficulties of independent learning, teachers realized that the traditional grading system was unfair.
Conclusion
The traditional assessment system, which was formed under the influence of various racial and cultural circumstances, has yet to improve its usefulness. Now, the requirements of modern society have changed towards a more adaptive preparation of students. Focusing on development rather than a specific outcome or assessment will allow students to study in a more psychologically favorable climate and achieve greater heights. Thus, supporting the traditional grading system in its current form is detrimental to the education system.
Reference
Esquivel, P. (2021). Faced with soaring Ds and Fs, schools are ditching the old way of grading. Los Angeles Times. Web.