When Did Grades Become Of More Value Than Learning?

'Grade anxiety' is something I and many other conscientious students struggle with. Personally, 'grade anxiety' causes me to worry more about getting an A on an assignment or test rather than actually learning and applying the material. If I receive a B on a paper I view it as a bad grade, while professors view this as a good grade. When did this viewpoint change? This is true for many students, which is something that needs to be addressed. When did we let America reach a point where it is so competitive that we value GPA on a resume rather than one's knowledge and skills? 


American college students are a product of their society. I, as a college student, believe my perfectionist attitudes toward school evolve from growing up in a country that has so thoroughly degraded its public vision of life to an endless quest for wealth and power. Every aspect of our lives is measured and compared, this is especially true for newer generations. We base our success on how much money we have, how many social media followers we have, and our grades. Grades, with the weight of an institution behind them, serves as a final judgment for many students. In the minds of students, receiving A's gives them a better chance of reaching success, anything less than the optimum might lead to unhappiness. 

There is no avoiding the conclusion that 20-year-old adults obsessing and crying over their grades is not a sign of societal health. Perhaps America should adopt different styles of schooling, Finland's elementary schools allow children plenty of free time for play, while also encouraging them to indulge their curiosities in the classroom. While in the United States, an American kindergartener has an average of 30 minutes of homework per night.  

The idea that school is the most important thing in life is ingrained in us students just at the young age of 4. I hope that soon one day students will be able to develop their passions and have less of an emphasis on grades.