I remember for a short period of time in lower grades of elementary school, our school did away with letters and tried just giving S and U. S equals “satisfactory” and U was “Unsatisfactory”. I think the system was thrown out after a year. Better: In middle school, we didn’t use A, B, C, D and F. We got actual NUMBER grades, like 50-99 (there was no 100). So even though 97, 98 and 99 were obviously brilliant marks, one really wanted to get 99s. And then in addition to those, we had EFFORT marks: 1, 2, and 3. 1 and 2 were great. But parents would get angry if you got 3s in effort. Even if the mark was 99. It meant you were fooling around in class.
For years parents complained that schools were just teaching to the standardized tests. Now that schools are trying something different, parents are complaining anyway. I for one welcome a change in grading standards. For what it’s worth, a B was as bad as a D when I was in grade school: I only got my allowance if I had all A’s on my report card.
Teachers get “regulated” by the Feds, the state, the school district, and their school admins. Then add some entitled parents and their spawn. And people wonder why educators are frustrated with the pay.
Present grading systems are ridiculously antiquated anyway. The relabeling in this comic shows good intentions but completely misses the heart of the matter. A baseball player with a 49% batting average would be an unprecedented superstar. Meanwhile a bomb specialist who succeeds 95% of the time would not last too long in the field. As a teacher, I strive to make my students’ grades reflect how well they have mastered the material. By carefully examining the curriculum, I determine developmentally appropriate criteria for what it means to have that mastery (a task that is helped immensely by the common core standards, by the way). Homework and classwork have the least weight in my gradebook, and someday with the right administrative support I hope to be able to reduce that to zero. Meanwhile, the quizzes and tests matter the most. Students are invited to retest any section or unit all the way to the end of the semester – and if they can prove they know it, I will grant them the grade they truly deserve.
i_am_the_jam about 4 years ago
American Public Schools™, Ladies and Gentlemen… :P :P :P
jpayne4040 about 4 years ago
This is too true to be funny!
dlkrueger33 about 4 years ago
I remember for a short period of time in lower grades of elementary school, our school did away with letters and tried just giving S and U. S equals “satisfactory” and U was “Unsatisfactory”. I think the system was thrown out after a year. Better: In middle school, we didn’t use A, B, C, D and F. We got actual NUMBER grades, like 50-99 (there was no 100). So even though 97, 98 and 99 were obviously brilliant marks, one really wanted to get 99s. And then in addition to those, we had EFFORT marks: 1, 2, and 3. 1 and 2 were great. But parents would get angry if you got 3s in effort. Even if the mark was 99. It meant you were fooling around in class.
Doug Taylor Premium Member about 4 years ago
I started grade school in 1959. They used actual scores. I remember getting 100s until the fourth grade when they switched to letters.
Jethro Flatline Premium Member about 4 years ago
For years parents complained that schools were just teaching to the standardized tests. Now that schools are trying something different, parents are complaining anyway. I for one welcome a change in grading standards. For what it’s worth, a B was as bad as a D when I was in grade school: I only got my allowance if I had all A’s on my report card.
rickmac1937 Premium Member about 4 years ago
Sadly it’s so true
Michael G. about 4 years ago
And everyone gets an end-of-term award!
AndrewSihler about 4 years ago
Oh, “F” is still there, only now it stands for “FUBAR”.
Templo S.U.D. about 4 years ago
don’t get your hopes up, Zack
Scoutmaster77 about 4 years ago
Teachers get “regulated” by the Feds, the state, the school district, and their school admins. Then add some entitled parents and their spawn. And people wonder why educators are frustrated with the pay.
Andylit Premium Member about 4 years ago
Chicago Public in the ’60’s used a similar system.
E, G, F, U. Excellent, Good, Fair, Unsatisfactory. With a range for the top 3. E+, E, E-, G+, G, G-, etc.
Seeker149 Premium Member about 4 years ago
Present grading systems are ridiculously antiquated anyway. The relabeling in this comic shows good intentions but completely misses the heart of the matter. A baseball player with a 49% batting average would be an unprecedented superstar. Meanwhile a bomb specialist who succeeds 95% of the time would not last too long in the field. As a teacher, I strive to make my students’ grades reflect how well they have mastered the material. By carefully examining the curriculum, I determine developmentally appropriate criteria for what it means to have that mastery (a task that is helped immensely by the common core standards, by the way). Homework and classwork have the least weight in my gradebook, and someday with the right administrative support I hope to be able to reduce that to zero. Meanwhile, the quizzes and tests matter the most. Students are invited to retest any section or unit all the way to the end of the semester – and if they can prove they know it, I will grant them the grade they truly deserve.