We've all seen them, we've possibly all used them, especially at pre-school and elementary levels. But are classroom star charts a good thing?
By star-charts, I mean the list of names with a star or check-mark showing who has done their chores or who has read a book or who has had perfect attendance this week. But do they really reward success or good behavior? Or merely compliance? Do they encourage competition, and healthy competition at that? Do they motivate? Or are they just "name and shame" in another guise?
I was prompted to reflect on this from reading a piece written by a "principal of the year" or some such. His contention is that ranking students is deleterious and harmful. Actually, I think the issue is more the publication of any such ranking rather than the existence of a list, but this was not the only weakness in a truly dreadful piece of text which would have failed any class I taught from G9 and possibly even in Middle School as well. (Presumably his leadership is superior to his writing.)
His claim contained not a single piece of evidence not a single study, not a single citation. All was opinion and conjecture, with the occasional anecdote or observation. We already have a significant problem with policies and legislation from opinions and political views from outside the field so to have this from a "principal of the year" is distressing. While his underlying thesis is worth discussing, his piece is not worth publishing.
Cards on the table, I am not sure how I feel about "ranking" as all depends on the definition of the term. I do support individualized programmes, special support for the gifted and the struggling, grouping by ability and also by performance. All of this can be considered ranking.
Similarly, as soon as you group or differentiate students, you are in effect publishing "in" and "out" or above and below the line or a ranking ...
But I got to thinking about the star charts we see in classrooms. Jimmy read four books, gold star, Suzy read two books, no star. Does this motivate Jimmy to read more? Does it motivate Suzy to read more? Does it lead to Jimmy lording it over Suzy, a close relative to psychological bullying? Does it lead to Suzy giving up, dropping out of school and living in a tree in the woods? Does the teacher say "Well done Jimmy"? or "Suzy, why are you like Jimmy?"?
I have not seen any research on this and would be interested to see some, both immediate response and longitudinal. A quick google shows a number of opinion pieces like the one you are reading, but no evidence. How are star charts used, and what effects do star charts have?
I remember as a MS / HS teacher I never published grades, or even displayed grades when returning studernt work. My view is that student grades are between the student and me and that any competition should be between his/her previous work and his/her current. But again, I believe this and my personal experience is that it was positive. Students who want to share did, those who wanted to crow inevitably soon stopped, and those who wanted to keep their grades to themselves also did.
I have not seen any research on this either I do know that universities no longer list exam grades outside the exam room for all to see and I am sure they had good reasons for doing so. Did they have research to book this up?
I believe naming and shaming in schools is a bad thing, and I suspect I have read something on this. But preschool star charts? Inquiring minds, or at least this one, want to know.
**Please leave your questions and comments below*
Further reading
Give that student a gold star
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