Final answer:
Not all essential skills need to be present to rate student performance because of diverse state standards for proficiency, different educational philosophies regarding assessment, and varied skill requirements in the workforce. Assessments may also vary to measure different levels of student understanding.
Step-by-step explanation:
All listed essential skills need not be present to rate student performance at various levels for several reasons. One key consideration is that different states have varying standards for measuring student proficiency, leading to a lack of uniformity in expectations and assessments. Moreover, the educational philosophy behind grading systems can vary, with some systems emphasizing competition and others more focused on collective success, thus affecting the criteria for grading. Additionally, diverse job requirements in the real world necessitate different skill sets, with higher-skilled jobs being more scarce and thus more valued in society. This is reflected in educational outcomes as well where not all skills are equally essential for every subject or field of study. Lastly, educators recognize that different assessments are needed to gauge various aspects of student understanding, from core concepts to in-depth skills, suggesting that not all skills are equally necessary for all levels of achievement.
The insights from Davis and Moore, along with the understanding that employers seek different qualifications, suggest that a student's performance in school can be complex and multifaceted. This is why a singular evaluation metric, potentially comprising a complete set of skills, might not accurately reflect a student's abilities or potential for success in a particular area.