Why not get rid of grades?

Why not get rid of grades?

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By Daniel Pink, Contributing Opinion columnist

If you’re looking for continued signs of inflation, bypass your local supermarket and head to Harvard Yard. Twenty years ago, the mean grade-point average for Harvard University undergraduates was 3.41. Today, Harvard’s average GPA has ballooned to 3.8. At America’s oldest university, 79 percent of the grades are now A’s and A-minuses ― a 32 percent increase from 10 years earlier.

And so it goes on campuses across America: Last century’s Gentleman’s C has become this century’s Everykid’s A.

When nations face hyperinflation, they sometimes resort to what’s called “redenomination.” They change the face value of the currency, often by lopping off zeros, or even assign the currency a new name.

Why not consider something similar in higher ed and replace letter grades in college?

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Jessica Turnbough

Veterans helping Veterans

1 周

Oh WA and OR have already gotten rid of grades just pushing kids to the next grade! The vote for vouchers so parents can choose what school their children attend and do away with the Department of Education

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Steve Selman

Independent Writing and Editing Professional

1 周

This is why so many graduates appear to be stupid today. How did something that once worked become so trivial?

Jennifer Yeko

LinkedIn + Career Expert // 40,000 followers // Recruiter & Director of Talent Acquisition, Ninja Recruiting // Executive Business Consultant & Career Coach. I also own a public relations company: True Talent PR. DE&I.

1 周

Interesting. The world has gotten so much more competitive.

How would you measure excellence? Puh-lease

Ricardo Duarte

Do you have plastics recycling questions?

1 周

It is an interesting idea and if scientific studies support this concept, why not try it. These ideas are probably being tried in other countries and maybe they outperform the US system, don't know. If you can get an A and not learn anything, the A means nothing. There are examples of students graduating with honors that do not know how to read or write, so an A maybe means nothing. Since I'm not an educator, I don't know if this is a good or bad idea, the education experts have the necessary experience. Maybe we now live in a time where everyone thinks they are experts at everything.

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