No wonder Johnny can’t read. His teacher can barely read, too.
This entry was posted on Friday, September 2nd, 2011 at 07:55 and is filed under Dystopia Watch.
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Grade inflation is a problem at all levels, but is especially pernicious at the post-secondary level.
It is primarily attributable to, I believe, two factors:
First, teaching jobs–in the absence of tenure–depend upon student evaluations. (This is why I am no longer affiliated with academia; I actually expected my students to master the material in return for good grades, and so received lower-than-sterling evaluations.)
Second, there is a great deal of pressure to inflate a student’s grade in order that they not lose finacial aid. For some reason it is felt that keeping the student in school is a benefit that outweighs not learning enough.
The College of Education is just easier than most others. I knew at least half a dozen people who left Arts & Sciences for Education because they were either struggling with grades or suddenly discovered in their senior year that they had a 2 year language requirement that they hadn’t addressed. To get a BA in Chemistry so you can teach chemistry, you only have to take about 1/3 as many chemistry classes as someone getting a BS, and your tougher minor classes are replaced by education classes.
I took a couple of education classes in order to get enough hours to get out of a dorm. “Pre-test/Post-test” and “behavior modification” – if you know those concepts you can pass any College of Education class.
I don’t think the kids are cheating; they’re just signing up for one of the easiest colleges. Even so, I have far more respect for them than those who attend the College of Business. That’s a topic for another thread.
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:03
Grade inflation is a problem at all levels, but is especially pernicious at the post-secondary level.
It is primarily attributable to, I believe, two factors:
First, teaching jobs–in the absence of tenure–depend upon student evaluations. (This is why I am no longer affiliated with academia; I actually expected my students to master the material in return for good grades, and so received lower-than-sterling evaluations.)
Second, there is a great deal of pressure to inflate a student’s grade in order that they not lose finacial aid. For some reason it is felt that keeping the student in school is a benefit that outweighs not learning enough.
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:22
The College of Education is just easier than most others. I knew at least half a dozen people who left Arts & Sciences for Education because they were either struggling with grades or suddenly discovered in their senior year that they had a 2 year language requirement that they hadn’t addressed. To get a BA in Chemistry so you can teach chemistry, you only have to take about 1/3 as many chemistry classes as someone getting a BS, and your tougher minor classes are replaced by education classes.
I took a couple of education classes in order to get enough hours to get out of a dorm. “Pre-test/Post-test” and “behavior modification” – if you know those concepts you can pass any College of Education class.
I don’t think the kids are cheating; they’re just signing up for one of the easiest colleges. Even so, I have far more respect for them than those who attend the College of Business. That’s a topic for another thread.