Interesting you should label grades as "currency". You're so right, it isn't and hasn't been about children or learning for decades, it's about funding.

How do you teach? Obviously you are a caring teacher who's goal goes beyond grades and teacher evaluations.

(((good for you, kids need you))))

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

Every year I get one or two complaints as do most of my peers. Invariably its always about the same thing. I have yet in my career to hear a complaint about a student who "isn't learning anything in my class", instead parents complain only about grades. Grades are in fact the only currency which seems to matter anymore. It's what motives the students and satisfies the parents. Nobody complains about poor learning experiences. This is generally true. Everyone is only ever working for grades. Even my peers generally care far more about their evaluations (if untenured) than in how their classes are really functioning in terms of students learning. The experienced ones with tenure are just looking to not rock the boat and get through a day with as little friction as possible. Solution, give them the meaningless grades they want so bad. Its all about grades. For once I wouldn't mind a complaint about how I teach but that will never happen.

I've heard it as well. My reply would be that good grades may be what you think will get your kids into state U., but not learning much will get them into academic probation quick enough. Wasted money, wasted time, feelings that "I can't do this, it isn't for me", more time spent drinking beer, doing shots, etc, etc.

In addition, colleges will see through those inflated grades by other means.

Education is a journey, and one learns more from the struggle, than from the results.

I agree ! I am teaching in the Middle East at the moment. Parent's evenings are NOT forums for dicussing the progress and general welfare of the student, no, the parents are interested in one thing and one thing only : why their child has 80 % and not 90 % ! It is absolutely a feeding frenzy for marks and the tear-struck student is standing there, right next to the demanding father / mother..speechless ! These kids are pushed severely to perform Free time and discovery does not exist. If you are female, then you are even worse off. I consider myself a good, caring teacher who tries, in the limits set by administration, to get the students to think a bit for themselves. However, at the moment I am practising what I call "sanitised" teaching because so many topics here are simply taboo and freedom of thought is not encourage. I have had it ! Another ons bites the dust.