Posted on 08/30/2010 3:34:34 PM PDT by george76
That is silly. There has to be a line.The score that is barely above that line is passing. Below it is failing. If you must fail barely pass then the line moves up to the top to where one person in the class pass with 100% or maybe not even him because that would be barely passing, i.e. the new D.
If you read the article, the point is that they are eliminating ‘D’ so that work at that level is treated as a Failing grade. No credit towards graduation until you repeat the class and do at least ‘C’ level work.
And it is not a matter of grade inflation — calling ‘D’ level work a ‘C’ so they can pass. They are failing students that can’t turn in ‘C’ level work.
I think it is a great idea. I’m also against grading on a curve. Tests should always be a random sampling of the material covered and a student should only move on to a new subject when they can get a minimum of 80% of the test correct. This business of 65% right earning an ‘A’ according to a curve just means the rest of the class are even worse students. Students should just continue to study the same subject until they master it. Not walk away with an ‘A’ grade for knowing 65% of the material.
Where I went to college, the “D” stood for Diploma. (No curves, tough school, and yes, I did have a “D” in one class.) Oh - and a “C” was for Credit!
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