In September of the 1999-2000 term, Thomas Edison High School decided to return to cumulative grading. The faculty at Edison decided that the grades students receive should be dependent on past grades. Many students are very upset about this decision and think that cumulative grading is unfair.
About two years ago students’ grades each marking period would stand alone and in most cases not reflect past marking period grades. This year the administration decided to switch to the old way of grading students. That is, grading them cumulatively. This was done because many parents, students, and teachers complained. Natasha Paul, a junior in favor of cumulative grading, said “In the first marking period my grades were high and in the second marking period they dropped. My average in the second marking period was much lower than it should have been because I did really well in the first marking period. My teachers should have took that into consideration.”
Teachers think students would be better off if their grades were cumulative. When asked about cumulative grading, Ms. Goodison a Government teacher said, "Students should be graded cumatively because it shows how they have worked overall." Many teachers feel that students should be graded each marking period by comparing their current marking period grades with their past marking period grades. Mr. Eisenberg, a guidance counselor, thinks there is nothing wrong with the cumulative grading. He said, “In order to see how you’re doing you have to compare your present situation with the past.”
While some agree with cumulative grading others disagree. Trevor Latchminarine, a junior said, “Usually, I do bad in the first marking period and my grades go up in the second marking period. With cumulative grading it seems like my grades aren’t improving.” Some students feel that each marking period their grades should stand alone and not reflect the past. Other teachers think there isn’t much of a difference between the two grading policies.
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