Life is a competition, you are what you perform and accomplish, and a grade is used as an indicator to this. There are, at the moment, four types of grades and if you fail that will stay on, at least on a piece of paper. This piece of knowledge can be extremely stressful for a school-weary teenager. A teenager, however, is slowly approaching the grown-up world and grades can be a good driving force. A seven year-old on the other hand, who is eager to acquire knowledge, does she or he really need to be borne down under the weight of stress regarding marks? The answer is no, children at primary school should not be graded.

First year at primary school is for most children a fun time in life. Children learn new things without even be aware of it. All of a sudden they can read and write. At this stage would grades be a negative factor. Grades would make them aware of their result and less focused on the fun process of learning.

Children learn at a different pace. For some children is the first years at school like a walk in the park, everything comes natural. In contrary many children struggle, they might find it hard to accustom to school and its rules. This could change though, children that struggle might catch up with their fellow students within a few years time. The bottom line is that children are uneven in their performances in their early years at school, and they should be allowed to be that. Grades would at this stage mark children, and with bad luck for the rest of their years at school. There is a big chance that these children start performing badly, because that is what is expected from them.

School classes are growing and the resources are limited. Teachers find it hard to see children as individuals and what children perform on tests are commonly seen as their only foundation when marks are given. Test results are a poor indicator on how good children are in certain fields. Many children perform badly because of stress or performance anxiety. Because of big school classes and bad resources grades should not be allowed in primary school, simply because there are not enough bases to mark children.

One might argue that grades are good because it clearly shows where students stand comparing to their fellow students. Furthermore those students with special needs are discovered early and can thereafter receive the extra help and support they might need. In contrary, grades are not the only way to see where students stand knowledge wise. Instead teachers should focus on students as individuals and with support from national standardized test results. This creates a more accurate picture of the child and its needs. Moreover, this counteract preferential discrimination among students, something that grades is a hotbed for.

Grades are good and could be seen as an excellent incentive, but not at primary school. Children are not supposed to be burden with stress and pressure that grades pose a great risk to contribute to. Learning should be fun and therefore should grades not be allowed in primary school.