Tyumen Residents Split Over New Behavior Grades in Schools

Already in the new academic year, Tyumen schools will introduce new grades — for behavior. The Ministry of Education has published a draft order, which means that the experiment, previously conducted only in a few regions, will be applied everywhere from September 1.

This idea is not liked by everyone. Even school staff, including principals, are divided in their opinions. We have collected various arguments «for» and «against». What do Tyumen residents think about the innovation?

«It»s high time to introduce grades for behavior! Poor teachers — no decent salary, and on top of that, parents can«t handle their own children. They dump everything on the teacher, and the children walk all over them, it»s an eternal problem.«

«My son»s class last year really lacked such a rule. There were students who studied well, but their behavior was beyond the pale. If they had been given a few F«s for behavior, ruining their quarterly grade, perhaps they would have thought about their behavior right away.»

«It would be better to install cameras in the classrooms. It would be much more beneficial for discipline. And teachers would get at least some protection from unruly children.»

«In Soviet times, they gave grades for behavior. Why is it a problem now? It was a normal practice. A school student with bad behavior outside school could be reprimanded later in school, if that didn»t help, they were sent to a special school. This saved many kids from a crooked path, they stopped their «entertainments» in time, and others — from those who are unable to live in society from childhood.«

«Criteria for assigning the grade can be defined. It»s not an objective opinion, but a record of the child«s behavior in class. If a poor grade is given, it»s a signal to everyone that they need to figure it out and pay attention to the child. It«s a tool for the child to be noticed. It»s a tool for the teacher to have some material for discussion. It«s a tool for the school to control both the student and the teacher. So it»s a normal idea. Secondly, knowing that the teacher has such a tool, the student will already learn to control themselves, over time it will become the norm, and further — into character. Culture is a system of taboos and restrictions, it also needs to be cultivated in a person.«

«For behavior, they should give not grades, but the rod!»

«Do teachers have few problems? Parents already don»t leave them in peace because of disputes over grades. And now for behavior. It«s very subjective. There will be nothing but conflicts!»

«What kind of expression is »to catch an F«? A child is not a puppy to be graded for behavior. It»s very harmful for children. No adult could sit through a boring and tedious lesson, with uninteresting assignments and generally empty information. And on top of that, to look at an aggressive teacher. And such a madam is given a little power to bully children!«

«In the 50s–60s, we were given grades for behavior in school, and we perceived it quite normally, besides, students were on duty during breaks and maintained order, it was very disciplining, why it had to be abolished, I don»t understand.«

«Or maybe, leave the schools alone already? Schools have long turned into hell for students, for teachers, and for parents!»

Recall that earlier we published the opinion of a well-known businessman who admitted that he would never hire a «behavioral excellent student». Why — read here.