"School Again": Is it possible to do away with grades and stripes on the report card at school?

“The school was created according to the devil’s instructions,” said the famous French educator Celestyn Frene. What does that mean? “The child likes adventure, but they were placed in closed rooms,” says Dr. Marzena Żylińska, a Germanist, methodologist, initiator and co-founder of the Awakening Schools movement. Our interviewee points to the fundamental contradictions between the natural needs of the child and the realities of everyday school life. In education, it is not what the child knows that counts, but what results they have and, ultimately, whether they have a stripe on their report card. And children who do not adapt have a hard time at school.

Why some children are "naughty" at school"

We discuss the different attitudes of students towards the system: those who renounce themselves for acceptance and those who fight for autonomy are often called "naughty". "They are only fighting to be able to develop in accordance with their needs," explains the expert.

We also talk about assessment. "Grades distract from what children are learning," we hear. Instead of numbers, some schools introduce other forms of child appreciation, such as letters, photo albums, conversations - elements that build bonds and motivation. "I heard about a girl who read a letter from her teacher every day, despite having difficulty reading," she says.

Excessive testing of students' knowledge disrupts the educational process

We also touch on the issue of tests and pressure. "Since mandatory homework was abolished, the number of tests has doubled," notes the podcast guest. But, as the proverb says, "a cow that's constantly weighed doesn't produce fatter milk."

We pay the most attention to relationships. - Nothing good can come from fear - he says in a conversation. Without trust and relationships, there is no real learning. - School should teach respect not for the winners, but for the effort of every little person.