Just my thoughts as a FHS graduate... I love that school, but I have a very strong opinion about the grading system. The Real World and the Real World Standard Based Grading In Theory, Standards based grading (SBG) is a wonderful concept: teach students to learn the material instead of memorize lines and formulas that they’ll only retain for the testing period. In the ideal school setting, SBG has the potential to be a leading factor in student development. Imagine the leaps that could be made. Our modern world, in its progressive state, demands for more learning; more growth; retention for material. Like every generation before us, we have come to a time when we have the means to further our understanding of society, history, technologies, math, science, art, and communications. That climax begins in the schools. I wasn’t the best student. I didn’t maintain a 4.0 GPA; never got a full ride scholarship, and my face was never printed on the front page news, which is why I can speak for the majority of students attending the D49 school district. That’s the reality. Not every student has the drive and desire to reach the peaks of acknowledgment. Every teacher hopes that their students all have that same burning drive and ability that opens their minds and allows learning to pour in. But the reality is different. FHS in D49 separates their grading system into two main categories: Formative assignments, and summative assignments. Let me break this down. In the schools mind: Formative: These are assignments that will help students learn the information without the worry or a poor grade. For that reason, formative assignments are not graded; they are simply practice. (At discretion of the instructor) Summative: These are assignments that will measure the students understanding and comprehension. The grade they receive for their class will consist of results from these assignments. (At discretion of the instructor) In the STUDENTS mind: Formative: These assignments don’t matter. I won’t be graded for them. Summative: I have to get an A on every one of these. These assignments determine my grade, so I will spend all of my time prepping for the test. Formative assignments are just busy work. The summatives make up the real class curriculum. As you can see, D49 has always had good intentions for their students. But they don’t factor in realistic thinking and they are too inconsistent. In the time I spent being graded by standards based grading, they system and its policies were changed at least five times. It was very difficult to keep up with the unpredictable changes. I thought perhaps it was just the probationary period and that eventually, the school would be able to adjust into a workable system. But they never did. Every class graded differently, and every effort equaled a different grade. In fact, not too long ago, I heard that the school was again attempting to amend the grading system. I think the thing that concerns me most is that in FHS’s version of SBG, students are allowed to RETAKE summative assignments, at their own convenience. I don’t think I ever heard anyone complain about that when I was there. However, after spending hundreds of dollars on college courses, I’ve realized that I had developed terrible habits at the High School. Because I was allowed to retake tests, I procrastinated, and didn’t study until after I had seen what was on the test, (Along with the majority of students in my graduating class) Newsflash: You can’t retake tests in college! There are due dates for every assignment! Nobody is there to help you along. As many before me have said, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.” It’s ironic that D49’s mission statement says they are dedicated to “developing responsible 21st century citizens through innovative educational programs.” (Grading and Assessment Model; Slide one) Last I checked responsibility consisted of being prepared, on time, and accurate; all things that FHS is teaching students aren’t important. Don’t get me wrong, I learned a lot in high school. I loved my teachers and was constantly engaged in healthy social and academic activity. I’m grateful to even live in a country where I have the right and means to receive such valuable and necessary information. But, the success of students in D49 will undoubtedly be impacted by the details of this grading system. Like I said, it starts in the schools. These are the most important years, and they are creating bad habits and false realities. Now is the time to fix the problem. Too often I hear people talk about how much we have already accomplished. Those things are important, but the progress shouldn’t stop there. D49 is a great school district, but they can and should be better. The first step is to cut out the inconsistences, create habits that will benefit students in the real world, prepare them for college by teaching them how college actually works, and challenge them. It isn’t just an effective way to learn and progress, it’s the only way. We’ve seen it time and time again throughout the course of history, that education is the key to a working, functioning, level minded society. We know it’s true. If we want to maintain our great Nation, we’ll have to give the rising generation the right tools. Those tools; those necessities, and behaviors will be acquired in school. It’s time to make education educational. Ashley E. Hess
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 21:19:57 +0000
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