Abolish Grading?

I know myself well enough to know I want to be open to it, the style of grading that Davidson promotes, but I would definitely hate it at first. I hate that I hate change, but I do shy away from it just the same. I am comfortable in the A-F format grade scale and I know what I need to do to get the desired grade. I have lived, worked, and succeeded with this system my whole life. This, I’m sure, is what all those people who reacted negatively to Davidson felt as well. That said, if that was the only option, I would adapt to it. I didn’t like when my school first switched to block days. (Look at page twelve in the link.) By the end of the semester I loved the concept, and I appreciated the way it had changed my classes. Change is hard at first, but change can also be better. Unfortunately, the teachers did not switch over to that more positive rhelm of thinking, and for the next year the block system was abolished. (Look at page 9 in the link.) The students had adapted, but the teachers refused to embrace it. I feel like if Graceland adapted this method the students would adjust much easier than the teachers would. They have simply had a longer stay in the world of nothing but A-F grading scale, so it is harder to crawl out of it. With the current grading scale I may be successful and comfortable, just like many students and teachers alike probably are, but that doesn’t mean it is the best way. If given the chance to try out this new system, I think I could learn, achieve, and be happy within it. It is relevant to remember that everyone learns and suceeds in different ways. Some people will flourish in the type of environment that Davidson covets and pushes for, but there are pros and cons to everything. Some students will also do better in the current system, others would thrive in a totally different atmosphere that may not have even be eluded to yet in the educational society. I don’t think that either system is perfect. Overall I don’t know if I am a fan of this new system or not. I can see the compelling case for it. A new way of learning with a progressive mindset that is more relatable to the times. I also cringe at the thought of having to change my entire process of learning. It is a mixed bag of concepts and I honestly cannot quite figure out where I want to take a firm position. When taken into the contex of the world, I feel lucky to be getting an education at all. Some people in the world are not that lucky, and when you think of the situation in this light, the grading scale seems less relevant. Even in places where education is avaliable there are vastly more unfair systems in place than an A-F scale. There were students in Afghanistan in 2013 who had to deal with an educational director who, “deliberately awards fewer marks to Afghan students in a bid to discourage them from continuing their education.” This is just one example that is causing trouble on a very large scale for many studens in that district. I feel almost guilty for complaining about the grading scale when there are children out in the world who would give everything they have to even scrape at an education. Once I get on that train of thought the base question of how I would react to being put in a Davidson like system seems so rediculous. Why should I care how I’m graded when at least I have the privilege of being educated at all. So, I guess to finally truly answer the question I would have to say it would take some real getting used to, but at the end of the day the base of an education at all is what really matters.