Grading of Children in Primary School

Ideally children in primary school should not have the burden of grades when the process of acquiring knowledge has only just begun. Primary school should preferably be a time for exploring knowledge, becoming aware of how to achieve it, but above all develop children's self-esteem. For learning to be valuable, the learning process needs to be pleasurable. Children are not able to distinguish between the person and performance thus self value may be measured in grades which might lead to a spiteful and tense atmosphere in the classroom. There are many different kinds of intelligences which are a crucial point to acknowledge and something the teacher must make the child understand. Knowledge should not be acquired to attain a certain grade; the child needs to learn the value of knowledge and why it will be important in the future. School is also about learning styles and personal development; would that be visible in a grade?

Grades may motivate the pupil to foremost finding out what the teacher wants rather than stimulate eagerness to learn and understanding. Knowledge is quality, grades are quantity. Every child shall have the prerequisites to succeed in school, hence teachers, children and guardians need to engage in active dialogue about schooling; what works, what does not work, and what can be done about it? Furthermore, a discussion about the reasons for going to school at all, should to a greater extent take place. That way, children might be able to enhance their understanding about the importance of the activities in school and appreciate knowledge.

Many children achieve a great sense of satisfaction when graded, but may also be devastating for children with troublesome home conditions. It may seem late to get your first grades when in eighth class and might cause stress not knowing if the effort put into school work is sufficient to obtain a certain grade. The reality is they are going to apply to upper secondary school where many programs require fairly high grades. School is also an arena for preparing children and adolescents for the future; to become responsible and independent citizens; consequently working towards a grade might be an important driving force and encourage self-determination and hard work. A possible solution would be to grade children in primary school, incorporate them into the eventually inevitable system of grades; illustrating the development of knowledge in this manner makes it tangible.

Even so, keeping in mind the contentment grades might give some children, it does not vindicate them in primary school. Children at that age need foremost to establish their self-esteem; accordingly, grades may ruin the enjoyment of learning which would be a betrayal to our future generation.