I don’t grade or make mandatory the VAST MAJORITY of assignments.

When an assignment comes from the external and a reward (good grade, positive note from the teacher) is attached, there is a transfer of ownership.

Ownership of learning transfers to me the teacher.

Ownership and responsibility of behavior is to learning. And it is based on the absence of external force and fueled by internal motivations.

When ownership shifts so does responsibility.

Rewards/grades becomes religion. “Teacher gave me (grade)” becomes narrative.

It’s starts small - students do FOR teachers get motivated by grades.

And like inception, it builds. Teachers own. Students comply. Students become the external thoughts/opinions. INCAPABLE OF INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT. Handcuffed to what others expect. Reliant on small rewards. #Sheep

Students self-image transfers from what THEY believe to what OTHERS believe.

Student responsibility over behavior, accountability of actions, ownership of ideas gets eliminated.

Indoctrinated to never be masters of their own thoughts or accountable for their own life.

School:
1) when we do things for ourself, we become responsible for our behaviors and thoughts
2) when we do things for others, we are hancuffed to external thoughts.
3) Responsibility becomes the teachers, ownership of ideas becomes external. Critical thinkers become unicorns

Without empowering students to critical think and take ownership and responsibility of though, we force kids to be pawns in a war of ideas that others are having.

They can make excuses. They can pass off blame. It is never theirs to own. It is never theirs to fight for.