An editorialfram the Altoona paper written by Jonny Wahl expresses a desire to have the grading system abolished: From kindergarden through college a person's academie achievements are recorded by grades. These grades are designed to signify the amount of knowledge that a person has absorbed in a set span of time. But do they? Throughout one's school career, there is constant pressure on a person to get good grades. Throughout the sec— ondary school and college levels, a person's goal is to get high grades; not to absorb knowledge. Throughout a person's school career, he is tempt ed to cheat, to "butter up" or to cram in order to raise his grade. The first evil of the grading system: is false interest. A student who dislikes a course or the teacher's opinions may become hypocritical and put on an air of enthusiP.sm to im press the teacher with hopes for a good grade. This student stops think ing for himself and tries to mold his thoughts into the ideas of the teacher Cramming would be eliminated if marks' were ayolished.. Astudent.could pick his own interests and specialize in them, Without grading there would be a better student=teacher relation ship. Students would be able to offer opinions freely without worrying about affecting their grades. Papers could be written without fear of go- ing against the teacher's ideas. Ideas mentioned in class that the teacher has not the time to cover in full would be covered by the student to enrich the scope of his field. If the class is grade-conscious, these ideas would be considered unimportant and not worthy of valuable time. Cheating would be unnecessary if - rading were abolished. A student cheats for fear of failing a course or for lack of interest. A grade achieved by cheating is not worth the price. It must be said, however, in defense of grades, that they serve as a guide to senior college accept ance. Under a new systel9, though, the student-teacher relations would be such that a teacher could write a very thorough and revealing report on his students. This, added to a person's College Board scores (college boards would not be elimin ated under the new systen, for they do not produce any of the evils of the "grade system"), would present an adequate guide for senior college acceptance. ult rARLY TON 4140.(1R3 wouLo HER SwisN THAN FIGHT TARE Y TOW THE FAGS FOR REAL. FAGS 46y TON
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers