While I was comfortably seated at a meeting, I  listened  to the bio-data of  the next speaker as it  was being read out. In the reading, mention was made of  the high marks which he had achieved in the school certificate examinations. My mind said within me, “Who cares now about school certificate exams? What has he done since then?”

Are school certificate exam marks important? Yes and no. Marks are the ticket of admission to the next step in education. If the marks are a reflection of the learning achieved, then again, yes. Learning is important. It  will remain  with each boy  throughout  the rest of  life. But what is more important is the attitude towards learning -- the motivation. Learning for the sake of learning is important. Marks for the sake of marks are not important, once you have been accepted for college.

Extensive educational research has shown that there can be a danger for the individual in high marks. Sometimes the boy becomes so anxious to always score high marks that he will avoid something  where there might  be low marks or failure.

Motivation, which is doing the best that one can and making the best  use of one’s talents, is an acquisition which will remain throughout life. Nobilians who have passed through these portals in the years gone by have made great achievements; and many of  them express thanks to the teachers who motivated them. Honest, value-based effort, is still our aim for each student. That is something of  which to be proud, something which will remain after school  marks have been long forgotten.

Fr. George Hess, S.J.
Former Principal