Section 1

On Kohn (1/31)


I do believe in grading. I think it is the only method (to date) to judge a student's aptitude in the classroom. I think the competition between students and their grades is healthy, and in most cases helpful, in achieving a good education. One of the main points of the article was that a good teacher could make the class interesting without grades. That has got to be one of the most idiotic things I have ever heard anyone say. I feel like no matter how good a teacher is, if you don't find that subject interesting, it will never be interesting. Getting a good grade in a subject that a student doesn't like, to me, shows his or her ability to excel in discipline, or work ethic. The whole point of getting good grades in high school is so you can get in to college, to study the courses that you ACTUALLY find interesting, and eventually pursue a career in that subject. Getting graded gives students a work ethic. It gives them a mindset that to do what you want to do, you must also do what you don't want to do.