Surrey school board has voiced its support for a controversial change which will see B.C. students in kindergarten to Grade 9 no longer receiving letter grades for their schoolwork.
The new grading system is described as a proficiency scale, where student performance is labelled as either emerging, developing, proficient or extending on their report cards — replacing letter grades from A to F that have traditionally been used. Students in Grades 10 to 12 will continue to be graded by letter.
“We see a shift in an emphasis on skills and competency and students working collaboratively and students being able to transfer and apply skills that they have gained in different contexts,” director of instruction Kathy Puharich said at the regular December school board meeting, on Wednesday (Dec. 13).
“It’s about what students know, but also what students can do with what they know.”
While the change has received criticism from many parents and teachers, Surrey’s trustees seem to be backing the decision.
“A lot of (parents) grew up like me with letter grades – you sort of get used to the A, B, C and sort of know where your child is, which is the most important thing. Now it stresses… what is the child learning? What is he doing with this and how much can he learn?” board chair Laurie Larsen said.
Another component of the grading change is that students also undertake self-reflections three times a year, to judge themselves on how they believe they are performing.
“In the last while I’ve read quite a few self-reflections from my two grandchildren and I would expect them both to be a bit boastful, but I found them both to be very honest and actually more critical of themselves. I read some of the primary grades (as well) and found out that most of the students were not boastful, they were very honest and very critical and they really critiqued themselves on where they thought they were in their goal setting,” Larsen said.
“Children really know where they are and it’s really helpful that they’re not being stigmatized with getting a C- or a C when their parents are expecting an A.”
Not everyone is convinced this is a positive change, however.
Before the policy was adopted, it was brought to parents, students and teachers for input, which resulted a resounding number of respondents expressing dissatisfaction with the proficiency scale.
The report from 2021 lists that more than 4,000 people were surveyed by the Education Ministry on the new policy. With respect to the proficiency scale specifically, dissatisfied respondents consisted of more than half of teachers, 60 per cent of parents and 83 per cent of students. Meanwhile, 60 per cent of school administration staff responded positively to the change.
B.C.’s education critic, Surrey-South MLA Elenore Sturko says she has heard from “countless” parents and teachers who oppose the change.
Sturko said that literacy levels are declining across the province and the new grading system does not help address the issue, but is instead leaving families feeling confused and anxious.
“I had hoped the ministry of education would have put a greater emphasis on ensuring equitable support for children as a way of ensuring proficiency
“Considering the NDP has chosen to ram through this change despite overwhelming concerns from parents, teachers, and students, I will continue to advocate on behalf of all B.C. teachers to ensure they are receiving the necessary resources to support our kids.”
- with files from Canadian Press
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