Re: Grading Alternative

["John E. Purchase, Ed. D." <jopur@muskoka.com>]

I assume that the lady at the gym meant by "grades",   A, B, C, D, and
F, and other codes of that ilk.  These "marks" or codes indicate the
level of proficiency accomplished by the student according to the
criteria set out in the course curriculum,  the course objectives.

The four level scheme which she describes also presumably represents a
proficiency scale according to that school's curriculum criteria.  A
grade or mark by any other name is still a grade or a mark, is it not?
How else but with reference to the course criteria (curriculum
specifics) should one report the accomplishments of a student?

Deming's complaints about grades, marks, or "gold stars" seem to centre
on the abuses and inappropriate applications of grades, such as using
them to rank or label students.  If grades are indicators of specific
achievement,  imposing any artificial distribution (e.g., bell curve)
on them pollutes their meaning and intent.

I don't believe that we should want to get rid of marks and grades which
are summaries of specific accomplishments.  We should, however,  be
quick to notice and correct ourselves abusing marks and grades and be
willing to tactfully point out  to others when they are observed to be
doing so and to explain why the particular practice doesn't make sense.

John E. Purchase
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