I am of the opinion that grades should be determined strictly by performance, a viewpoint that aligns with Kelly's argument for ensuring fairness across all students. Additionally, I assert that grading based purely on performance can streamline the evaluation process for educators and ensure uniformity. This approach allows educators to establish clear, measurable criteria for success that can be consistently applied to every student, eliminating the ambiguity and potential for bias that comes with evaluating effort. Effort, by its nature, is subjective and challenging to measure accurately.
While Paul noted the importance of acknowledging hard work for character development and its long-term advantages for students, he overlooked that outcomes are often more valued than effort in various real-world contexts, such as in professional environments or higher educational settings. While effort is commendable, it is ultimately performance that is most frequently used as the benchmark for success. Therefore, emphasizing performance in grading could better equip students for these future realities.
In summary, I strongly advocate for grades to be based exclusively on performance.