Needing new medicine

Evaluating students by giving an average or a letter grade has been a rather recent development in the long history of education.  The reason for that is that in ancient times, education was by mentor to student, one on one.  In the Middle Ages, the privileged of society were able to pay for their teachers, so education was more widespread, but still the master/apprentice idea was the model.  One learned how to do something, trying again and again until he or she got it right.  Finally, England brought in the teacher/students model with a ratio of about 1:10.  At that time scoring knowledge became fashionable since teachers wanted to distinguish between students who did well for them and those who didn't.

By the time America was established, schooling was well underway and scoring knowledge using the teacher/students of a ratio of about 1:15 was practiced in populated places.  America has practiced this model since its inception.  After World War II, schools became much more populated since about half of the women stayed in the work force and school was a logical place for children in cities to go.  So, the ratio increased by about 60%.  Then mandatory attendance laws raised the teacher/student ratio to its current levels.  Because of this increase in student population, a more uniform grading system had to be implemented.

The system settled on two grading systems, A-F and 0-100.  Many schools had a D in the first system, which meant only one step above F since E was stricken from the scale.  The number system settled on 60 as the lowest passing grade at first, but a decade later, 70 became a more standard passing grade.  The numbering system is a little more popular these days than the lettering system, but they correspond nicely.

The scoring system itself is a plague on our society, but the games teacher play with the system are a travesty.  While evaluation is a necessary part of learning, other systems would better serve any reform that emerges for the next century's schools.  Our businesses deserve better to maintain the competitive edge in the global economy.  Our children need desperately to know that an average is not their best.  They need to know that 60%  or 70% of a knowledge base is not "passing" in society.  One gets paid to do a job well, not 60% well.  Or that payment for a job is for one's A game, not their C game, not even their B+ game.

The video below is a message for the generation coming into adulthood to change their world.  It's upbeat and altruistic.  A new form of education and an evaluation system that promotes reality and grit will allow this generation to fulfill their goals.