What is the purpose of Grades?

The awe inspiring speech that is posted on Mr. Grdinic's blog is very eye-opening and posts a good argument against the emphasis that society and school forums put on trivial things such as grades. While grades do give a general idea as to a person's understanding of the materical at the time, they do not take into account the many factors that can appear in a student's life and have an affect on their score and outcome. What should truly be influenced and revered is the child's understanding and retainment of the information, to the degree that the subject and aspects of the subject have become second nature. So much emphasis is placed on a student's grade and test results that unneeded stress is added onto their lives, leading to more psychological problems and an imbalance to a person's life. When a person's life is constantly revolving around one aspect, they come to hate that one thing which they spend the most time upon, which is why you don't here many students being enthusiastic about attending school or the end of summer vacation. A balance is needed like in any diet, and the wording and ideas that were immersed in the article of Ms. Gallagher's is extremely insightful and better explains my own beliefs.