Goodman's A Proposal to Abolish Grading takes a harsh view of grades and grading systems. Goodman argues that the inherent nature and structure of grading undermines real learning and growth, turning students into competitive cogs in a grading machine from the classroom to the office: This set-up itself makes it impossible for the student to become a master, to have grown up, and to commence on his own. He will always be making A or B for some overseer. And in the present atmosphere, he will always be climbing on his friend's neck (17).
I believe Goodman's views on grading are emotionally biased and not true to my own experiences with grades.
Goodman maintains that grading produces a false response from students. Tho