Over a half of educators express concern about the use of subjective evaluations of student behavior in educational institutions.
In a significant move aimed at fostering discipline and social responsibility among students, a behavior grade pilot project has been introduced in Russian schools starting September 1, 2022. The initiative, supported by clinical psychologist Dr. Olesya Tolsutkina, is part of a government drive to integrate behavior assessments into the school grading system.
The pilot project is currently underway in seven regions: Leningrad, Novgorod, Tula, Yaroslavl regions, Chechnya, Mordovia, and the LNR. The project aims to encourage positive conduct, improve the overall school climate, and provide teachers and parents with valuable insights into students' personal development.
However, the project's specific details, evaluations, and outcomes are not yet widely available. A survey of over a thousand teachers across the country revealed varying opinions on the initiative. While 62.5% generally support the introduction of a behavior grade, 37.5% voted against it. Interestingly, 24.9% of teachers expressed concerns about the subjectivity of a behavior grade.
The survey also revealed that the majority of teachers (59.2%) believe the decision to assign the behavior grade should be made by the teacher. On the other hand, 12.6% of teachers believe a behavior grade violates children's rights. However, half of the educators (50.8%) are confident that a poor behavior grade should not affect a student's transfer to another class, participation in competitions, or graduation.
The Ulyanovsk region, for instance, has seen 68% of teachers supporting the introduction of a behavior grade, 26% being against it, and 6% expressing uncertainty. Meanwhile, only 26.6% of teachers do not see threats in the introduction of a behavior grade.
Schools have the flexibility to choose one of three assessment systems: a five-point scale ("excellent" to "unsatisfactory"), pass/fail, or a three-level system ("exemplary", "acceptable", "unacceptable" behavior). It's important to note that only students from 1st to 8th grade will participate in the pilot, with high school students being excluded to avoid additional stress before exams.
The initiative was announced by Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov in June, marking a significant step towards a more holistic approach to education in Russia. As the pilot project progresses, it will be crucial to monitor its impact and gather more data to evaluate its effectiveness and potential for nationwide implementation.
- As the society continues to strive for a more holistic approach to education, the introduction of the behavior grade pilot project in Russian schools has sparked discussions in the realm of education-and-self-development, politics, and general-news.
- The implementation of the behavior grade pilot project, aiming to foster discipline and social responsibility, not only affects the education system within schools but also affects the broader political and societal landscape of Russia.
