Our Addiction To Grades

The adult world is addicted to grades. Subsequently, so is the child world. There is little else in formal education so firmly entrenched and supposedly irreplaceable as the A-F (but no E) system.

A few examples.

Many educators have stories to tell when the end of a grading period nears. Students begging for grades. Parents begging for grades. Parents offering major external incentives to children like money, technology, even cars for top grades. Plenty of crying, anger, even low-level threats in the teacher’s classroom and principal’s office. Professors complain about high-grade expectations and subsequent grade inflation in colleges.

While working in high profile international schools, many emotional visits to the counselor and my office centered around family conflicts over grades. Although root causes are complicated; panic attacks, mental breakdowns, and suicides can be traced to fixation on grades.

🎶 Might as well face it, you’re addicted to GRADES  🎶

Just recently, I came across a well-known nationally syndicated sports radio show where the discussion of the moment was of all things – grades and testing. The host indicated his concerns over “accountability” and “preparation for the real world,” if traditional testing/grading is not continued. He remarked that students’ whine about the negative impact of grades. Finally, “There are consequences for what you do.” Not sure why these comments came from a sports show other than re-stating a strong emotional attachment to traditional grades.

🎶 Might as well face it, you’re addicted to GRADES  🎶

Movement away from traditional grading systems is almost always met with resistance. This article is a typical representation of parents’ reaction to grading shifts. Phrases like, “hate this report card,” “totally worthless,” and “I want grades again!!!” indicate a fixed mindset strongly resistant to change.

🎶 Might as well face it, you’re addicted to GRADES  🎶

There is a solution to our addiction. Change the grading system. In fact, changes are already in place, such as standards-based grading, which moves the focus away from the grade to the learning. As mentioned above, the initial reaction is usually strongly negative from parents, teachers, and students. Addicts strongly resist the idea of quitting their habit. I didn’t say it was easy but the trailblazing has been done successfully.

How and why did grades get started?  The late, great Joe Bower has provided a brief history of grading.

The lyrics of the 1985 Robert Palmer song, Addicted To Love, plus music video inspired the genesis of this post.

🎶 Addicted To GRADES (Love) – Robert Palmer

Your lights are on, but you’re not home
Your mind is not your own
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
Another GRADE (kiss) is what it takes
You can’t sleep, you can’t eat
There’s no doubt, you’re in deep
Your throat is tight, you can’t breathe
Another GRADE (kiss) is all you need
Ohh oohh

You like to think that you’re immune to the stuff…oh yeah
It’s closer to the truth to say you can’t get enough
You know you’re gonna have to face it
You’re addicted to GRADES (love)

You see the signs, but you can’t read
You’re runnin’ at a different speed
Your heart beats in double time
Another GRADE (kiss) and you’ll be mine, a one track mind
You can’t be saved
Oblivion is all you crave
If there’s some left for you
You don’t mind if you do
Ohh oohh

You like to think that you’re immune to the stuff
It’s closer to the truth to say you can’t get enough
You know you’re gonna have to face it
You’re addicted to GRADES (love)

Might as well face it, you’re addicted to GRADES (love)
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to GRADES (love)
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to GRADES (love)
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to GRADES (love)
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to GRADES (love)