This is a great observation on education and assessment from Urusula Le Guin in "The Dispossessed" (1/3)

"He was appalled by the examination system, when it was explained to him; he could not imagine a greater deterrent to the natural wish to learn than this pattern of cramming in information and disgorging it at demand.
At first he refused to give any tests or grades, but this upset the University administrators so badly that, not wishing to be discouneous to his hosts, he gave in."