If we truly value something, we measure it. This statement should be true, but too often in schools, it is not. Think about the things that we measure: state test scores, perfect attendance, grades, office referrals—the list goes on. It isn’t that these things aren’t important, it’s that they probably aren’t the most important.
Why not? Most educators and parents know that these things we measure all too often don’t end up equaling student success later in life. There are correlations between good grades and post-secondary success, but aren’t there other more important factors that students need to be successful? If so, why aren’t more schools measuring those factors? This is really the key question for schools and what sets us apart.
When we think of “successful” students here at Bethany, we don’t necessarily think about grades first. We believe in assessing non-academic factors such as being a good coworker, having perseverance and a good work ethic, and the ability to solve problems and think critically. These are skills that will help students be successful in college and in the workforce. Once a student lands their first job, their GPA becomes nearly irrelevant in most industries.
So what does Bethany do to change the focus and measure what we value—or what we should be valuing? Here are some examples:
These are not the only skills that students need in order to be successful, but to target what will truly help students—and to then start measuring it—shifts the focus away from grades or attendance and toward social skills and authentic learning in our measurement of success. At Bethany, we believe in educating the mind, spirit and body from start to finish!