I don't want to speak for the OP, but maybe they meant we should be OK with failing people. At least in the US, if you show up to class, attempt to do the homew

I don't want to speak for the OP, but maybe they meant we should be OK with failing people. At least in the US, if you show up to class, attempt to do the homework, and take the exams you are pretty much guaranteed to get your degree. I see this in graduate programs as well (although not the top programs like CMU or Standford). I even saw it when my wife went through med school - many of her peers partied, did horribly, even got caught cheating, but because they were spending 250k on that education no one ever failed out. I think we should set standards and not be afraid to uphold them. This will probably result in fewer scientists, but maybe it will become clear where we are failing them earlier in their education and allow us to improve that process.