Should students do the grading? The Supreme Court says the practice doesn't violate a student's right to privacy, but is it right for students to grade each other?

• Author: Green, Kevin
• Position: Opinion

YES The Supreme Court was absolutely correct to say it's OK for students to grade each other's homework, quizzes, and tests. In fact, it's a great idea.

By grading each other's papers and seeing the problems their peers encounter, as well as their own, students double their exposure to the troubles that they may meet on future exams and tests. The basic purpose of school is to learn not just what others have done right, but to learn from what they have done wrong. How better to teach this than to put it directly into the lives of students?

Besides, teachers are underappreciated and underpaid for the number of hours they have to work to be able to really teach well. Grading all their students' papers can take hours on end. Some of that time and energy can be saved by spending a few minutes in class, while providing an invaluable learning experience.

I understand that some are sensitive to their classmates seeing their work or grades. But school is a place where every mistake can be learned from, and self-esteem can be built. Any good teacher would make allowances for students who don't want their classmates to grade their assignments.

Grading each other's papers may be one of the best ways for students to reinforce within themselves the ways to respond to the most difficult parts of what they are learning. It simply can't be denied that in-class grading of assignments is a great way to learn, and those with personal issues can resolve those issues if they just present their problems to their teachers. Allowing students to learn in the best way they are able should be the responsibility of society. If learning in school upsets some students and their parents, perhaps they don't really realize what they are upset about.

--KEVIN GREEN, 17 Fort Myers, Fla. NO A girl cringes as her classmate announces her failing test grade and hands her the paper, bathed in the red ink of the...