Wad-ja-get?: The grading game in American education

by Howard Kirschenbaum

Inequalities of the public educational grading system.

Genres: Education

315 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Christopher Shull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I wouldn't characterize this as a great read from a purely literary perspective, I consider this a fantastic way to understand the gradeless/ungrading movement as well as an interesting-enough narrative to keep things moving foward.

[Runa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about America's grading system--it just doesn't sound like anything that would keep your attention for a long time, right? You'll be proven pleasantly wrong after reading this amazing book. I found myself agreeing with most everything that was said, and let it be mentioned that while the book was published in 1971, the arguments are still completely applicable, and changes still need to be made. While the book is written in a half-corny, half-interesting narration of a class assignment that spins out of control, it really puts the issues in perspective, sometimes in a horrifying light (english paper grades vs. math/science paper grades). I think one of the other statements made in this book that really stuck out was the idea that childhood naturally stifles curiousity--and grades only add to this. It's true, it really is, "grades represent the measure of a person's value" and we as a society do nothing to break this horrible perspective. I really only wish this debate on grades was re-sparked, it's an on-going battle, and very little is being done to solve it.

Rating: 5/5

[David Schuster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of grades, ranking people, and judging others in general, but I hate grading. This book had an uphill battle, but it managed to get me to consider what school would look like if grades didn't exist. I'm not any longer convinced that it would be a disaster. I need to read something written since 1972 to look deeper.