It could be a Zen koan: if everybody in the class gets an A, what does an A mean?Cripple our ability to recognize exemplary scholarship? Uh-huh. Allow me to indulge in a well-known maxim: One cannot do what is already done.
The answer: Not what it should, says Andrew Perrin, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. “An A should mean outstanding work; it should not be the default grade,” Mr. Perrin said. “If everyone gets an A for adequate completion of tasks, it cripples our ability to recognize exemplary scholarship.”
The grade is — by design, mind you — bullshit. Keep in mind, the following conversation took place before the advent of the so-called Digital Age:
Tell me professor, how well did my boy grasp dem' Eco-nomic theories?
Well, I'm thrilled whenever a parent takes an interest in their child's education. Have you read the syllabus and assignments?
Of course not.
Oh, uh, okay... well, let's start by reviewing his first assignment — to get some idea where he started. Next, we'll read his mid-term and final, tracing the evolution of his understanding...
Right, um... I'm not interested in the class, I just want to know how well my boy is doing.
Yes, but you'll need to understand the coursework in order to get some sense of the assessment.
(quietly mutters, "shit") Yeah, ahem...it's just that I, uh... I've a lunch, uh, meeting I need to get to — totally forgot, but I can't miss it — can you summarize it for me?
No, not really...
How about you just give it to me on a scale of 1-10, eh? Where does Junior rank?
Compared to what, how would this scale work?
Aw Hell, I don't know, whatever... you tell me
Um, I don't think a numerical scale will work? That would just simplify the matter, it wouldn't mean anything.
How about letters? "A" is first, so that would be the best, and —
Yeah, that's still, essentially, the same as your 1-10 idea...
Dammit, this is taking forever. Just say good or bad... how should I feel about my son's Progress?
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