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The problem is such behavior is very heavily disincentivized. I am not sure what the main factor at Harvard is but at public schools the funding of the universi

by zzless 4y ago

The problem is such behavior is very heavily disincentivized. I am not sure what the main factor at Harvard is but at public schools the funding of the university depends most heavily on retention. At our university, we are penalized (both in salary and other ways) for students that get Ds and Fs as well as students who withdraw(with no penalty for the student!) from the class. In addition, student evaluations play a huge role in this process and the easiest way to get a good evaluation is to give easy grades. Guess what kind of grading policy this promotes... By the way, the reason retention, as opposed to the quality is valued is also simple. The ranking of the state 'in education' is measured by the number of diplomas given out by the institutions in the state. So more diplomas---better education ratings of the state. Thus encouraging faculty to pass students is a rational strategy. I am surprised we are not just giving students all As without any tests whatsoever. Would make my life so much easier. For a while ...

juve1996 4y ago
It's hard to blame any one piece of the system for inflating grades - everyone "wins" short term, and that's all this country cares about, from top to bottom. Students get their piece of paper so they can have at least a not-hopeless life, schools get their way overpriced tuition, administrators get their raises, companies get to pretend they hire smart people, etc. Governments know everyone wants their kid to go to college, so they make it easier to get people degrees. If college continues to be a requirement for most of the basic jobs people receive then this will continue. Most of the workforce doesn't need a college degree. The things they learn in college they will never, ever use, and most of the jobs don't actually require critical thinking like is constantly waved about whenever these conversations come up.
- zzless 4y ago
  Well put. Grade inflation is one of those emerging behaviors that is reinforced by the system as a whole as opposed to individual players. I think one major problem is we equate education with 'college education' which is probably quite harmful.

by zzless 4y ago

juve1996 4y ago

It's hard to blame any one piece of the system for inflating grades - everyone "wins" short term, and that's all this country cares about, from top to bottom. Students get their piece of paper so they can have at least a not-hopeless life, schools get their way overpriced tuition, administrators get their raises, companies get to pretend they hire smart people, etc. Governments know everyone wants their kid to go to college, so they make it easier to get people degrees. If college continues to be a requirement for most of the basic jobs people receive then this will continue. Most of the workforce doesn't need a college degree. The things they learn in college they will never, ever use, and most of the jobs don't actually require critical thinking like is constantly waved about whenever these conversations come up.

zzless 4y ago
Well put. Grade inflation is one of those emerging behaviors that is reinforced by the system as a whole as opposed to individual players. I think one major problem is we equate education with 'college education' which is probably quite harmful.