Abolish grades in schools and universities: we can do it!
Abolish grades in schools and universities: we can do it!
Le problème
First: the grading system: students don't need grades to learn, it actually harms. Consistent scientific research shows motivation is essential to learning as well as a playful state of mind (0). Grades harm motivation (1)(2), create anxiety (3)(4), kill creativity (5) (making mistakes is an essential part of the creative process), reduce kindness (6), etc. The negative effects persist during the lifetime, impacting ownership, responsibility, and health (7). Grades are the basis of inequality as they reinforce those who already know and undermine those who don’t (8).
Second: the separation per age group: there is a large scientific consensus that children learn best from peers and that personalized learning is the best approach (9).
Grades are the product of a system where the children are oppressed and standardized which was useful when the society needed executors of orders. Today we need creativity, initiative, intrinsic-motivation. Let's change the paradigm for schools, to see happier children, happier parents, happier teachers, and happier adults!
The future of education will eventually converge with the scientific research, focusing on the needs of the children, instead of the needs of the adults. I believe the change comes from the bottom when people realise that they have the right to act and they form collaborative mouvements to address the issue.
It is hard to change our concept of school and of children: they are seen as empty vessels to fill, oppress, and conform. That is not our goal anymore and the inertia of change is in motion, but too slow. People are suffering from the system but haven't yet started a coordinated action to change their condition. It is so hard to navigate alternatives and the amount of information, so let's listen to the scientists: their solution looks awesome!
See below some examples of schools and universities that don’t use grades.
- 10 Colleges Without Letter Grades - Best College Reviews
- All Montessori schools. Example: Hershey Montessori | Inspiring Global Citizens from Birth to 18 Years
- Free and Democratic schools
- In Finland, until age 11, the children have only 1 evaluation at age 9.
- Many others! Please share if you know about an initiative! We can do it!!!
(0) Estes and Vaughan, 1973
(1) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1974-10497-001
(2) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0022103179900398
(3) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1987-26534-001
(5) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1980-25638-001
(6) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1993-32944-001
(7) Full article: Consequences of school grading systems on adolescent health: evidence from a Swedish school reform
(8) https://www.iza.org/publications/dp/10165
(9) https://www.evidenceforlearning.org.au/the-toolkits/the-teaching-and-learning-toolkit/full-toolkit/
Le problème
First: the grading system: students don't need grades to learn, it actually harms. Consistent scientific research shows motivation is essential to learning as well as a playful state of mind (0). Grades harm motivation (1)(2), create anxiety (3)(4), kill creativity (5) (making mistakes is an essential part of the creative process), reduce kindness (6), etc. The negative effects persist during the lifetime, impacting ownership, responsibility, and health (7). Grades are the basis of inequality as they reinforce those who already know and undermine those who don’t (8).
Second: the separation per age group: there is a large scientific consensus that children learn best from peers and that personalized learning is the best approach (9).
Grades are the product of a system where the children are oppressed and standardized which was useful when the society needed executors of orders. Today we need creativity, initiative, intrinsic-motivation. Let's change the paradigm for schools, to see happier children, happier parents, happier teachers, and happier adults!
The future of education will eventually converge with the scientific research, focusing on the needs of the children, instead of the needs of the adults. I believe the change comes from the bottom when people realise that they have the right to act and they form collaborative mouvements to address the issue.
It is hard to change our concept of school and of children: they are seen as empty vessels to fill, oppress, and conform. That is not our goal anymore and the inertia of change is in motion, but too slow. People are suffering from the system but haven't yet started a coordinated action to change their condition. It is so hard to navigate alternatives and the amount of information, so let's listen to the scientists: their solution looks awesome!
See below some examples of schools and universities that don’t use grades.
- 10 Colleges Without Letter Grades - Best College Reviews
- All Montessori schools. Example: Hershey Montessori | Inspiring Global Citizens from Birth to 18 Years
- Free and Democratic schools
- In Finland, until age 11, the children have only 1 evaluation at age 9.
- Many others! Please share if you know about an initiative! We can do it!!!
(0) Estes and Vaughan, 1973
(1) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1974-10497-001
(2) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0022103179900398
(3) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1987-26534-001
(5) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1980-25638-001
(6) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1993-32944-001
(7) Full article: Consequences of school grading systems on adolescent health: evidence from a Swedish school reform
(8) https://www.iza.org/publications/dp/10165
(9) https://www.evidenceforlearning.org.au/the-toolkits/the-teaching-and-learning-toolkit/full-toolkit/
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Pétition lancée le 17 novembre 2020