There were several big reasons that we began homeschooling. Most of those became far less important over the first couple of years, while other benefits of homeschooling seemed to shine more brightly. One of the reasons I liked homeschooling was because I didn't have to give grades. Some people are just such unbelievable perfectionists, and from the educational materials I read, it seems that grades just feed right into that, making kids care more about their scores than they should. The learning should be the important thing, and the grades should be relatively unimportant. Self-worth should not be tied into the score on the top of an exam or term paper.
So Coral (a friend whose mom homeschooled them a lot like we homeschool) goes to college, and gets distressed over a 92%. And my Philip goes to college and thinks a B is a failing grade. And Katie goes to college and thinks the same thing. And Andrew goes to drivers ed and is distraught over any grade that's in the 80s, and deeply covets not only a 100% but wants a 104% from the extra credit.
It didn't work, did it? Homeschooling in a relaxed manner, focusing on learning instead of on grades, and not giving tests ... and still they think an A is acceptable, an A- is bad, and an A+ is where it's at! I consider that a homeschooling failure.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
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I love to learn but I also love to succeed at something. Maybe there are 2 different issues at play here. Do you deny that your children love to learn?
ReplyDeleteI do that too. All the time. :( I feel horrifically guilty if I get Bs, because I *know* I should be getting As and I could if I tried harder. As it is, I'm probably going to get a B in my history class, and it makes me feel sick.
ReplyDeleteI can live with an A- though. That's still an A! :P
Cs are evil though. And I got a D back on a Chem test and almost cried once.
Ahh, the sinful flesh raises its ugly head yet again...
ReplyDeleteI got graded while being home schooled. I don't care about grades at all. Getting grades is what taught me that grades aren't important. Not that I'm apathetic toward learning (though, oftentimes I am, but that's not a result of grades, that's just me) - but I'm definitely apathetic toward grades.
ReplyDeleteHow's that for ironic? :-)
Ah, Presbytera, I didn't mean to imply that homeschooling was a failure altogether. I just meant that this particular goal of homeschooling didn't pan out like I wanted. Yes, you're right -- they love to learn and that is good!
ReplyDeleteNathan, you ornery ironic booger!
Rachel, yup yup yup -- that's exactly what I did in school too. Just call me Hermione.
Everyone should get an F at least once in their life. That's what finally taught me not to care about grades and be happy with whatever I got (as long as it was passing: C to A). In the case of a class I'm really, really struggling with, I'm happy with a D. The most important point is learning and passing the class. Who cares that you got a C or B in the process? It's all good as long as it's not an F. And even then... well... it's not the end of the world.
ReplyDeleteI am very happy with my B's and not even disappointed with my C's. And my A's? Well, those just make me ecstatic.
The best part about it all, though, is that there's no longer any pressure. No pressure at all. And more than any A, I love not having the pressure.
Hey!! I may have loved my perfect scores on Driver's Ed tests, but it never bothered me when they were less than perfect.
ReplyDeleteScores only matter in sports. And professional reviews.
Coming from a public/parochial school- I don't find myself caring abut grades either. I think it's a per person thing.
ReplyDeletePart of it was realizing early on that grades don't matter- they really don't. You can point to some weird cases where they do, but by and large- no1 cares.
So Jeff, you're saying it's genetic and not environmental, eh?
ReplyDelete(And notice the one person with my genes who's commented here is the one saying "grades don't matter" unless it's "grades" from her boss at work....)
Yes, because those "grades" affect my pay (nothing else, but definitely my pay). Educational grades do not affect my wallet, social standing, or intelligence, therefore do not matter.
ReplyDeleteIf it means the bills are paid with money to spare, I care. If not... eh.
I agree. Grades are not the end all be all. Paul would say something different, he likes making good grades, but I don't think he would die if he didn't. He went to a small school and was really smart growing up. I went to public schools and got good grades most of the way up but I didn't really care about grades while growing up but still made good ones. Hmm it is interesting and makes you wonder what really is good for your child, I think it depends on the kid.
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite as bad as those boys. I got some terrible scores in drivers ed. I was happy getting a B in one of my classes (mostly because I expected a C, but that's another matter). I love getting As, but I recognize I can't always get what I want... that doesn't mean I'm not frustrated with lower, I just accept it.
ReplyDeleteBut it's not the grade so much as the desire to be the best, it's very much a competitive thing for me, a desire so-to-speak to be perfect and praised.
I wouldn't discount the genetic thing though :-)
See- the problem with you people is you're letting others create a reference by which is judge you.
ReplyDeleteThe only true judge is yourself- and your own feelings. If you're happy with the grade, then it's ok- if you're not happy with the grade- then the fault is in the person who graded you not giving you the grade you feel you deserve.
Grasp this standard, and then join with me in applying it to Government and theology.