1A Lesson Plan for “From Degrading to De-grading” by Alfie Kohn (472)

One. Why Is Kohn Against Grading?

1.  Students become more focused on grades than learning. (Either/or fallacy?)

2.  Students avoid risks that might compromise their grade.

3.  Students don’t think as creatively.

4.  Grades encourage “fact-based” rigid curriculum (true?)

5.  Grades encourage cheating.

6.  Grades spoil relationship between students and teachers.

7.  Grades make students too competitive with each other resulting in  “spoiled relationships.”

8.  Grades are often done on a curve, which punishes students.

 

Two. What Are Some Possible Refutations of Kohn? (A Defense of Grading)

1.  Competition from grading prepares students for real world.

2.  Not all students try and perform equally. Those who are superior, as a result of their hard work, should enjoy seeing their hard work rewarded with higher grades.

3.  It’s human nature to be motivated by the carrot and the stick. Kohn is living in a candy-coated dream world that ignores the realities of human nature.

4.  Grades are not perfect, but they are an important motivational tool.

5.  Grades are not perfect, but they do help show the “cream rising to the top,” an important process in any meritocracy. A meritocracy is a society that rewards the people based on merits.

6.  It turns out that Kohn also is against homework. Thus, it appears he subscribes to the Cult of Academic Relaxation, a form of “creative laxity,” which I oppose.

 

Three. Writing Option: 

In a page, summarize Kohn's essay. Then in your thesis defend or refute Kohn with 4 or 5 mapping statements.

Four. Links That Refute Alfie Kohn and His Defense

Alfie Kohn Is Bad for You and Dangerous for Your Children

Alfie Kohn, Demagogue

Alfie Kohn's Reply to Daniel Willingham