For decades, average college grades have been rising. Does that mean the students are smarter and learning more? If you believe that, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.
In today’s Martin Center article, Duke student Sherman Criner looks at the phenomenon of grade inflation.
He thinks that students are largely to blame, writing:
When someone first hears about grade inflation, he or she may immediately criticize universities and teachers for lowering grading standards, but couldn’t students be the real culprits? As a current student at Duke University, I can attest that my peers and I stay away from certain professors or courses. To the extent possible, students stuff their schedules with fluff classes to ensure that their GPAs remain high enough to attract employers or graduate-school admissions departments.
Fluff classes — yes, colleges and universities have been creating more of them to help keep both the students and faculty happy. Of course, there are still islands of academic rigor, but they are easily avoided by students who want a shiny degree without too much effort.
Criner adds:
Looked at a certain way, it is in neither students’ nor universities’ interest to retain high grading standards, because the modern professional world undervalues skills and overvalues resumes. Though inflating grades or taking easier classes may undercut a student’s education and make him or her less prepared for the professional world, it does help a student get a job.
Read the whole thing.