The purpose of schooling is to teach our children to lean and produce quality work. In order to accomplish this goal, our school must re-think the ways in which they view the educational process.Such changes do not necessarily cost more money ( although  increased funding for education is important), but rather requires a radical shift in how we set out to support our students in achieving quality in their school experience.

Although many student are currently experiencing success in our schools, we have too many young people who are branded as failures as a result of the inadequacies of our present academic system. The premature use of competition, the introduction of compulsory homework, and an obsessive emphasis on grading (which often overshadows the primary  purpose of education  learning) all  serve to detract  from promoting quality education.

According to dr. William Glasses (Psychiatrist) teachers must develop positive  involvement with  students , re-think the relevance of their  curriculum and consider the student evaluation process as a byproduct of a successful , quality learning experience

When teachers are asked about grades, they insist that grades are positive motivators .The primary purpose of grading/evaluation is to provide students with a yardstick for progress being made. Grades should never be used as an arbitrary measure reflecting a teacher’s standards. When we are evaluated on our job, the process is hopefully designed to motivate us and improve our performance. Many teachers mistakenly  believe that they can coerce students who are not doing quality work  by using grades as a motivational tool. However , it is naïve to  assume that a student who has chronically failed will improve his performance by being labeled a failure through the grading system.

Here are some principles of grading that will enhance a  student’s chances of learning and experiencing school success:

1. Accentuate the positive with one’s  grading policy. “All students can achieve in my class .“

2. Allow students who do not turn in quality work to re-do work until it is quality.This should  include re-takes of tests, re working in-class material and finetuning non-compulsory homework. Rember ,the goal is not some arbitrary school standard, but having your students ultimately learn the material no matter how long it takes.

3. Homework should be removed from the grading process.Many students do not have an appropriate environment at home or the support from parents to make it a priority.Make homework non-compulsory and meaningful and you will bet getter buy-in from students

4. Teacher involvement with students is critical in order to get students to embrace the concept of quality work. Students should be able to say, “My teacher is fair reasonable and pleasant to be around. “

5.Work tasks should  be meaningful rather than focused on memorizing information for the purposes of the teacher.Student should be taught how to learn.This process should include critical thinking,learning, learning how to find information, creative activities, problem-solving, cooperative learning strategies and class meetings.

6. Teachers should look for fresh ways to motivate students without the use of coercion . Excuses such as this kid is too lazy, un-teachable or from a troubled home are not helpful.

7. Grades are reflection of the quality of the learning experience.If many students are doing poorly, it is responsibility of the school to correct the problem.

8. If the school system is organized upon a healthy, need-satisfying leadership style among its teachers and administrators,  most students will succeed and receive good grades.

9. Positive evaluation is a byproduct of the quality of a program.If students are not succeeding, the program is faulty.School systems need to honestly grade themselves and see where improvement may be needed.Without a lead-management style of relating from administrators and teachers. And a curriculum based upon critical thinking problem-solving and meaningful work experiences schools will fail along with their students.We cannot afford that happen if we are to promote quality schooling.

 

 

By: Emma Jane B. Turda | T-III | Balon Elementary School | Balon Mariveles Bataan