I’d have to agree. I teach Core Humanities at the local community college. Mostly Sophomores who cannot write to save their lives. My courses are history intensive and writing intensive. I tell the students on Day 1 that while an “A” might be the most common grade on college campuses, unfortunately for them, they are in Professor Crapgame’s class and an “A” is the LEAST common grade I give out. I usually have at least as many if not more “F”s...
How cruel! What chance for success will these poor kids have if you don’t give them good grades? /s
It makes a difference whether you always force a bell curve that way, or whether you have a fixed set of standards in which any student, in principle, could excel without hurting the others.