prisoners of conformity

What exactly is the “A” and why do we all want it? “Throughout our school years, we are taught to believe from society that grades display our intelligence. Because of this, our motivation, learning and personal growth are placed second to attaining the ultimate goal-the grade . . . We are programmed to imitate what the teacher wants. If we don’t, we get a bad grade.” (Bell:1999:2-3) Pressure from both parents and teachers to get good …

…grade has become a symbol of our supposed accomplishments in school, although it represents nothing of our intelligence. The grade motivates us to want the “A,” not to want to gain knowledge. We go to school to memorize useless facts and figures, take tests on them, and then forget everything after we get the grade. “Schooling is not education; it’s conformity . . . subtly, unconsciously, we become prisoners of society’s school and its curriculum.” (McGrane:1994:5)