Theoretically grades do matter but as a student I've reached the conclusion that grades often do not reflect your capabilities but your attitude in class. The grading criteria varies from professor to professor with some putting emphasis in knowing what the subject is by focusing grading on tests while others focus in diligence making sure you do what they tell you to do. I'll discuss more in depth the differing approaches to grading.

For instance attitude professors will usually give homework 50% or more of the overall grade, they are simply looking for diligence not aptitude. This method creates an element of frustration if you are a good test taker. Even more by having homework constitute the majority of your grade the professor is indirectly obligating you to finish all of your homework during a time frame and implying high attendance to keep up with homework. This kind of classes will force you into taking them seriously even if they are of a basic teaching. I call this kind of classes "leeches" because you obviously will have more important classes but yet you have the obligation to devout some time to homework almost every night. Furthermore even if you understand the concepts taught and score high on tests your grade will likely not reflect what you gained from the class unless you do your homework.

The capability professor will leave the learning up to you by giving lectures, assigning homework but not grading it, and telling you what you should study for the test. They will also assign essays to get a feel of your writing, views, and prepare you for subsequent classes instead of suffocating you with banal activities. This kind of professor is my favorite since you don't have to do all of your homework enabling you to neglect the simplistic time consuming works while being able to take the ones that are more intricate without any penalty. What's more important their grading will reflect your knowledge instead of how serious you took the class.

This brings forth a question what is education? Will it be the learning of a subject and being able to apply it when necessary or a reflection of your work ethics? I can see where our society would want it to be both, this provides a great glimpse on someone's work ethic which is great for employers but how is this good for the individual?

Now to answer your question "Do grades really matter?"

The answer is yes and often more than we can imagine. Your grades are your achievements and to some people it does not reflect those. Grades are marks given by educators who often develop feelings to students and reward them accordingly. In short grades matter more then we can imagine but yet are not reliable sources. Schooling affects everyone differently and often is where we rebel, mature, and become ourselves. Grades do reflect this maturation in some people, while other just give up because even though they try, they are never rewarded with grades. Grades are cruel and I believe it needs a reform, getting a D when you try hard is detrimental but when it's shown as a "69 overall" then subdivided into "88 test average 47 Class work average" it turns in something much more manageable. If we adopted a system in which grades are in numbers then subdivide it into two categories teachers would know how to handle different students and know why they are where they are. Parents would also know what to do about the kids grade and so would the students. It's not that hard to realize that this simple change could influence and revolutionize teaching.

Learn more about this author, Bentley Scarton.
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