Tina Turner had that voice, didn't she? I mean who else could sing as harmonious as she could demanding an answer to the question as "What's Love Got To Do With It?" So, the same question can be applied to education particularly as it relates to grading, right? What do grades really have to do with it and in this case I'm referring to learning? Do grades really have anything to do with learning? Have you ever received a particular grade and learned from that grade? If so, what did you learn? You probably already knew, for the most part how you were doing in that course or class, right? If not, what does a B- tell you?
What does it mean when a student earns an A in a course? A new Gallop Poll, survey says that prestigious colleges will not "make you happier" in life or in work. Can the same be said about grades? The question itself is probably a stretch but exploring this notion of grades certainly is an emotionally charged issue. Nearly every person who has participated in the educational system here in the U.S. American Public Education system can relate to receiving grades, either inflated, not reflective of their abilities, or somewhere in between. Some schools have moved to competency based learning and others as we did at Big Picture moved to public exhibition presentations. Let's move to a place where grades have an equal importance as knowing your work made a difference in someones life, improved a community, transformed vacant lots into nutrient rich soil or any other opportunities that allow students to do deeply personal and other-centered work and learning.
