Middle and high school students in Poland will find a new grade on report cards this year. Teachers will be giving students marks for effort and attitude.

At first blush, we were put off by the idea of grading students for their effort and attitude. We didn’t like the idea that a sour disposition could hurt an otherwise bright student’s grades or be used as a blunt tool to get students to march in lock step.

But ultimately the idea has merit.

Called “habits of work,” the new evaluation will judge students on some of the less tangible attributes that play a part in success. The assessment will be subjective – certainly more so than easily defined success in subjects like math where there is usually just one right answer – but it should replace the “fudge factor” in which hardworking students often get the benefit of the doubt when they need just a little help to get a better grade.

The “habits of work” won’t be on transcripts sent to colleges, and it won’t factor into grade-point averages during the first year, although it might next year. We would caution against giving the attitude scores too much academic weight.

But they will give parents a new tool for tracking how their children are performing in school.

Attitude has always counted in class, just as it does in the workplace.

It’s good to encourage students to persevere, to be prepared, to behave ethically and to accept responsibility for their actions – all factors that will be considered here. Such traits will serve students well throughout their lives.