B.F. SkinnerA fourth-grade reader may be a sixth-grade mathematician. The grade is an administrative device which does violence to the nature of the developmental process.
About This Quote
The grade system is an arbitrary and artificial construct intended to promote uniformity. It accomplishes this by doing violence to the nature of the developmental process. The grade placed on a child is based on the teacher's opinion of that child's ability, not on that child's actual ability or performance. Since the grade is based on input from one teacher, not actual performance, it represents a false depiction of the child's achievement.
The grade may be manipulated to make the student look better or worse than he is in reality. Teachers are under pressure to prepare their students for standardized tests that are used for comparison among school districts. The use of these tests often leads to an overemphasis on certain subjects and neglect of others, which can have a negative effect on a child's self-concept.
Source: Walden Two
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