What is the Cost of Silence: Examining the Drawbacks of the In-class Participation Grading Method in American K-12 Schools

Abstract

This study weighs the significance of one of the commonly used grading methods in K-12 schools in a new way: the in-class participation grading method, which measures a student’s quantitative engagement in classes. The participation grade is often combined with other gradings and makes up the Grade Point Average (mostly in high schools). Yet numerous flaws exist within the grading system. While it is used worldwide, only K-12 schools in the United States will be considered in this paper. The objective is to determine whether the grading method is inclusive or, in other words, fair to be used in the American education system. The essay examines and discusses the drawbacks of the method and provides plausible alternatives. Such alternatives to grading participation might shed light on innovating the American Education System in general. Though no experimental procedures were conducted, this literary analysis utilizes multiple sources for empirical evidence.