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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Schools placing too much emphasis on self-reflection

We no longer get As, Bs, and Cs. We get ‘extending, applying, developing, and beginning’
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I understand schools are trying to make students become critical thinkers, but it seems like we’re learning less and less and having therapy classes more and more, says Grade 9 letter writer. STOCK PHOTO

To the editor,

Kids and teenagers are the future, so why are we letting their education go down the drain?

I was always that little girl who loved school. I loved reading, math, and learning new things.

The B.C. curriculum was then changed. I’m in Grade 9 and we no longer get As, Bs, and Cs. We get ‘extending, applying, developing, and beginning.’ I’m not really sure what the need is for that because my parents don’t understand it, I don’t understand it, even some teachers don’t understand it.

The reflecting is out of control. It feels like every time we do an assignment we reflect. Which means we’re answering questions like “How do you feel about this?,” “What would you change about this?,” Why did you choose to do this?,” etc. We also get to grade our own assignments which I don’t think is helpful at all because all kids will give themselves the highest mark. It’s painful. Most kids don’t want to do the assignment in the first place let alone write about how it made them feel.

We do a final exam in math. Instead of doing a final exam in all our courses we do a presentation of learning. Which is where we provide three different pieces of evidence from our classes and answer the questions “What tools and strategies did you use?,” “How will this prepare you for grade 10?,” and “What worked for you as a learner?”

I understand the point the school board is trying to get across which is making students critical thinkers, but it seems like we’re learning less and less and having therapy classes more and more. I will never understand this way of teaching and I hope I won’t have to and it’ll be changed back to normal. More and more kids are skipping school and doing drugs or drinking. How is our future going to look with badly educated students as the leaders?

Stella Parr, Nanaimo


The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press or the Nanaimo News Bulletin. If you have a different view, we encourage you to write to us or contribute to the discussion below.