Are grades important?

For generations, parents have pushed children to get good grades. Many of my classmates are given cash, iPods, and even cars as rewards for good grades. This obsession with grades comes from the belief that school success means more opportunities for higher paying jobs and a better life. Since grades are indicators of school success, good grades are seen as essential.
But can grades in high school predict future success? While good grades may indicate the mastery of content, what they really demonstrate is that students have the skill set necessary to succeed in school. Success comes by following directions and simply listening to your teacher. High achieving students are able to deliver what the teacher wants. So, grades, in fact, reflect whether teachers think students have mastered the content. Grades given in high school do not predict success in college. In contrast, having the ability to understand educational systems leads to success. High achieving students turn out to be solid citizens who are accountants, doctors, engineers and lawyers. On the other hand, careers such as business, public service, and research, need creative thinkers driven by curiosity to take risks and have an open mind. These skills, instead of benefiting them while enrolled in education, work against them. These students question the rules and challenge their teachers. Instead of doing what the teacher asks, creative thinkers question what the picture is. Often, high schools do not spend time to share with the class the importance of everything they teach.
Poor grades do close the doors of opportunity for some students. Maybe it’s not getting into the college they wanted, or maybe it’s punishment from their parents. School performance has limited some peoples’ opportunities, however, this is almost always from the lack of effort produced. The idea that more education means higher income has almost diminished in today’s society. According to Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed, there have been more world and more “mold breakers,” people who drop out of school to follow their passion. Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Great Britain, as well as Walt Disney, are examples of a “mold breakers.” Churchill was a horrible student at the bottom of his class at Harrow (an exclusive private school). Yet, he led Britain through World War II and is recognized as one of the great leaders of the 20th century.
Even though “mold breakers” such as Churchill and Disney had almost all Fs on their report cards, they still managed to become successful. With their determined mind and perseverance, they became beneficial members of society. So how do teachers grade these remarkable students? Sometimes it’s impossible.
Before parents and teachers panic over grades, remember that many successful people had poor grades because their success came from reinventing instead of working within the system. One skill high achieving students have discovered is the ability to adapt to each teacher’s needs and preferences. By molding to their liking, any student can be successful.