A Teaching Life

Instead of grading with the letter system or the 1.0-4.0 system, I recommend to return to a policy (I already sense raised eyebrows) some institutions years ago invoked for grading: a pass-fail system, one with rigor. Testing is not going away. Hence, the pass-fail system must demand a level of mastery to pass. No easy passes. Students deserve to reach levels of competency. Otherwise, what’s the point of education.

I recommend instead that high schools focus “grading” on character development. We know that a democracy not only needs bright, learned people but also good people. People who understand that our democracy belongs to all of us. Where “We the people” includes everyone.

Classrooms must become places where character is first and always on the agenda. In every lesson, fundamental human qualities need to be at the forefront including civility, kindness, generosity, gratitude, helpfulness, self-awareness, competence, hope, truth, wisdom, engagement, respect, responsibility, care, compassion, communion, and empathy.

Instead of report cards having letter grades, with pass-fail teachers writing comments to each student. Given the large number of students, a common template known both to students and teachers could facilitate; and perhaps supported by AI (details to be worked out).

The important ingredient is that students understand that school is about who they are, who they are becoming, and that teachers do all they can to guide them. If we are to have a democracy, its people should not only be skilled and competent but also of good character.

Such a change means a paradigm shift in the purpose of education. Given how difficult change happens in school cultures, is it even possible to consider? I can imagine that students in such classrooms would have less anxiety about their grades. They would realize that competition with peers no longer applies. They would be in a milieu that respects them and their classmates. Learning would be more cooperative, less competitive. Together building America, building a better world.

Radical? I am going out on a limb, way out perhaps. I am open to any responses in this essential conversation. So much to flesh out.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forward” (Kierkegaard)

I write to bring ideas and methods from my life as a teacher in the latter half of the 20^th century to help teachers and the public to “live forward” in this century. My latest book, Teacher in the Rye: Doing It My Way is available on Amazon. And I welcome comments here on my Blog or by email at frankthoms3@gmail.com.