Here are two letters from our readers expressing their concern about school assessment (评价)： Students should be allowed to study without worrying about grades (学习成绩). Fortunately, most educators realize that students have different interests and abilities. However, grade-based assessment is still very common. Grades often hold back creativity. Competing for better grades causes many students to turn down opportunities to go in for music, drama and sports. Grades are also an unfair measure of a student' s ability. I do not demand, as some extremists do, that grades should no longer be recorded. However, I do believe that less importance should be placed on. grades. I hope that someday grades will become optional(可选择的) at Village High School. Magdalena Smith, President Drama Club (2) Let' s face the facts about grades. Grades perform. three basic functions(功能). First, grades get students to work at their highest level of competence (能力). Second, they act as an encouragement for hard-working students and as a warming to those who are not. Finally, grades are an effective standard by which to measure students' achievement. Good grades help students to get jobs and to get into university. I've spoken with a number of students who have jobs, and most of them say that they were hired mainly because of their grades. My grades helped me get a part-time job and will help me into university next year. I think grades are extremely important at Village High School. Simon Harper, Member, Science Club Simon Harper writes from the viewpoint of someone who______