Should Schools Stop Giving Grades?

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1. 01Should Schools Stop Giving Grades?

   Good morning, everyone. Have you ever studied only for the test, and then forgotten everything? I have, many times. Some educators believe the problem is grades themselves. Today, I'll look at both sides: should schools stop giving grades?

   大家早上好。你有没有过只为了考试而学习，考完就全忘了的经历？我就有过很多次。一些教育工作者认为，问题出在分数本身。今天，我们从正反两面来看看：学校应该取消打分吗？

2. 02What Would It Look Like?

   First, what would a school without grades look like? Instead of an A or a seventy-five, students would get written feedback about what they did well and what to improve.

   首先，没有分数的学校会是什么样子？学生得到的不是A或者75分，而是书面反馈，告诉他们哪里做得好、哪里需要改进。

3. 03For: Focus on Learning

   Supporters say removing grades would shift the focus from scores to learning. Without the pressure of a number, students might take more risks, ask more questions, and follow their curiosity.

   支持者认为，取消分数能把关注点从分数转移到学习上。没有了数字带来的压力，学生可能会更敢于尝试、更多地提问，并跟随自己的好奇心。

4. 04For: Better Feedback

   They also argue that a single number tells students very little. A comment like "Your argument is strong, but your examples need more detail" is much more useful than a B-plus.

   他们还认为，单单一个数字能告诉学生的东西非常少。像“你的论点很有力，但例子需要更多细节”这样的评语，比一个B+有用得多。

5. 05Against: Motivation and Clarity

   On the other hand, critics point out that grades motivate many students. A clear grade tells students and parents quickly whether someone is on track or needs help.

   另一方面，批评者指出，分数能激励很多学生。一个明确的分数能让学生和家长很快知道，一个人是进展顺利，还是需要帮助。

6. 06Against: Universities and Fairness

   There's also a practical problem. Universities and employers often need a simple way to compare applicants. And written feedback can be more subjective than grades, which might be less fair.

   还有一个现实问题。大学和用人单位常常需要一种简单的方法来比较申请者。而且书面反馈可能比分数更主观，这可能会不太公平。

7. 07My View: Fewer Grades, More Feedback

   In my view, the answer is fewer grades, not zero grades. Practice work and drafts could be ungraded, with feedback only. Grades could be kept for final tasks, and always come with comments.

   在我看来，答案是少打分，而不是不打分。练习作业和草稿可以不打分，只给反馈。期末任务可以保留分数，而且一定要附上评语。

8. 08Conclusion

   To conclude, grades are a tool, not the goal. If we use them less often and explain them better, students can learn for learning's sake, while still knowing where they stand. Thank you.

   最后总结一下，分数是一种工具，而不是目的。如果我们少用分数，并把分数解释得更清楚，学生就能为了学习本身而学习，同时也知道自己处在什么位置。谢谢大家。