On Grades

SOME of my students are enraged that I don’t give A’s and B’s to those who don’t come to class, take tests, or turn in papers. “I know I didn’t take two tests, and failed the one I did; I know that I did only one of the two assigned papers. Is there extra credit? Your class is gonna ruin my four point.” (Then, when they earn the grade they deserve, they glare angrily at me in the halls for the time they remain at in school). Alas, doing nothing and still making the Dean’s List is all too common.

A young student who didn’t come to class much or turn in many papers told me recently that if I didn’t allow her extra credit, she was going to earn a C in my class. “I’ve never got a C before,” she said. She took the final yesterday. Good news! She still will be able to say “I never got a C in my life.” She earned a D.

The modal course grade given at my college is A. Not an opinion, a documented fact. The second most assigned course grade is B. This, while the Board of Regents tells us the “average” grade should be C.

Realistically, I can’t imagine it’s going to change. The lip service is about my college providing “education” but the reality is that we are here to provide a commodity called “certification.” I once facetiously suggested that the school charge a big fee up-front, and award the degree without requiring class work. Many of my students thought that was a pretty good idea.

So do I, now that I think of it.