In New Hampshire, Spaulding High School is trying out a new
grading system –the competency-based system. The new system includes a new type of grade called a student
professionalism grade. The
professionalism grade was designed to make the grading system fairer, by
removing subjective aspects of grading, such as extra credit, participation,
and effort from a students academic grade. Grading subjectively can greatly affect students in a positive
or negative way. However, the
problem I see with the student professionalism grade is that this grade would
also be subjective.
The article continues that students should be graded on their
knowledge of course material and not by teacher’s perspective of the
student. The new competency-based
grading system displays the life long lesson that practice makes perfect, as
suggested by Jason Talon in the article.
Student should complete their assignments merely for the purpose of
better understanding the course material.
They should not have to be rewarded for every little task they
accomplish. Students should do their work for themselves personally and not for
their teachers. This all sounds good,
but I believe there is still some benefits to encouraging extra credit,
participation, and supporting a students effort, or why do it. If a student is willing to write an
extra paper for a few points, why discourage it because something additional is
learned. I do not believe separating
the student professionalism grade from a student’s academic grade removes the
subjective aspect in grading. I
still think the problem exists.
Curtis, Danielle. “Some parents still concerned about new
grading system at Spaulding” Foster’s Daily Democrat [Dover, NH] Wednesday,
September 28, 2011. Access World News.
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