From Degrading To Grading, By Alfie Kohn

I have always valued school and enlarging my intelligence; I receive a sense of pride from earning a decent grade on a paper or on a particular assignment. Alfie Kohn wrote an essay titled “From Degrading to De-grading”; in it he suggests a different view on the current education system. Even though students expect marks and even seem dependent on them, grading should spur on a love of studying not deter it. Grades tend to reduce a student’s inclination for stimulating tasks, and lessen students’ interest in erudition.

According the three leading effects of grading outlined in Kohn’s paper, the number one effect of grading is “grades tend to reduce students' interest in being taught.” I would agree with his argument grading and testing puts pressure on getting excellent grades and takes the focus off understanding and on “performing” acceptably. When I was younger, I was ferocious reading lately the only reading I accomplish is required for a class or studying a textbook. It was enjoyable since I loved reading; I was not required to read all the books I read due to my genuine love for reading and words. Because of that, I excelled in English.

An example of this occurred when I was in eighth grade; I started taking classes outside of the house.

I had a remarkable teacher named Robin Furnish. Each week she assigned mini speeches. Initially I put a great deal of work into my speeches, and I wanted them to impeccable. A few weeks into the school year, I began to realize I could get away with doing little, and still get an A. Slowly, but surely the quality of the work I was doing lessened. Kohn states the second outcome of grading “Grades tend to reduce students’ preference for challenging tasks.” I agree his point I knew I was able to complete the work in half the time and still perform passably in her class, therefore I stopped

trying.
My freshman year English teacher spent the whole class period talking about everything except wrote, her class bored me. I was not challenged at all, and I found the topics juvenile and simple. Each week she would read our assignments and edit them. I started not to care about grammar or mechanics. Why bother when she would fix it anyway? She would always provide opinions on our topics and contribute suggestions for how to write our papers and I would agree with her and write what suggested. Kohn’s third point was “Grades tend to reduce the quality of students thinking”, I agree with his idea that I acquired all A’s and didn’t learn or absorb a thing.
Grading has made an impact; in some positive ways, although mainly negatively. I never realized how much effort I put in to receive an outstanding grade, instead of to truly understanding the information. The majority of what I have learned has gone in one ear and out the other. Kohn’s thought- provoking essay allowed for a deeper investigation into the student I am today.