The problem these days is we are too soft. Why not post class rank, grades, etc. on a continual basis. Give the kids a chance to compete against their classmates as opposed to everyone feeling good about their anonymous average or below average standing. Would it discourage poor performers? I hope so. Maybe it would spur them on to greatness. If not, perhaps it would teach them the valuable lesson that their whole life they will be judged against others and the strong will survive. The high performers would be spurred onto competing even harder to achieve top ranking.
Are you talking about "shaming" students into performing better?
Shaming is an interesting way to put it. If they perform well then there would be no shame. If they perform poorly, maybe "shame" would make them try harder. The problem is that there are a myriad of excuses as to why students do not perform. Lack of structure at home, insufficient support financially or educationally, environment in school or at home, learning disability, etc. So it really isn't an even playing field. We used to have class ranking on a regular basis but now it is hard to go that route due to a system that wants to reward everyone for attendance as opposed to performance. At least in Nebraska, it is saddening to see the number of kids that are promoted through the ranks without even a basic concept of fundamentals. High school graduates without basic skills in math or reading are common. What then do they pursue from there? Minimum wage jobs at best, but more likely in need of government assistance.
The software our high school uses (and most in Washington state) does report overall GPA and class rank to the students.
I specifically chose the word shame to see where you were going with this. Shame vs guilt.
Shame: I am a poor student.
Guilt: I performed poorly as a student.
Major difference.
Are we talking a character flaw or a behavior? Its been a focus of mine over the past year. I'm working hard to acknowledge effort in my students as opposed to ability. IMO ability should never be praised. Effort deserves praise. If we're praising students ability (their built in intelligence) it also means we're acknowledging students lack of ability. They see and hear this all the time. Once they convince themselves they lack ability they're pretty much ####ed.
