Several years ago, schools and rec programs began giving trophies and medals not only to the top 3 winners of an athletic event but also to everyone else for just participating. People stated it devalued the hard work of the top 3 and made kids not want to compete so hard to be the best if everyone got a trophy anyway. Now we have to force kids to get active and stay away from the glowing screens we all have become addicted to – parents and kids alike.
I just heard that some colleges are giving their first-semester freshmen a pass/fail grade, so they can get acclimated to college life. Yet other schools have gone a different route. They are telling professors that they can only give “A’s” to 20% of the students in their class because too many students were getting “A’s” and they were losing their reputation as a competitive school.
I understand the concept of giving a pass/fail grade to help students adjust to college life. However, the fact that the students were able to get into the college (some with academic scholarships) indicates that they are intelligent. When I went to college, it did not take me a semester to wake up and realize that I was not in Kansas anymore. I quickly realized that I had to get myself to class without relying on my mom or brother to wake me up. I also quickly realized the price for partying, skipping class, and not studying before an exam would be a failing grade on a test or paper. That first semester weeded out the people who just wanted to coast through life, hoping their parents would save them, and those who were ready for adulthood. I’m not sure if a pass/fail grade that first semester will help or hurt those freshmen in the long run.
I understand the reason behind limiting the number of “A’s” a professor can give. However, I am concerned that this will create a different problem. Instead of awarding “A’s” to the best written papers, professors might be tempted to award some “A’s” to their “favorites,” whether or not they deserve it. Teachers might award some “A’s” for a student’s potential instead of what they are currently producing. Let’s say that there are professors who have well-formed consciences. You are now tying their hands and making them have to grade on a curve, which will only benefit those who test well. You get the appearance of being competitive, but what kind of students are you producing in the long run?
If you are an Ivy League or other academic competitve college, you are already hard enough to get into. They are admitting the top 10% of students from their high schools. Once the students come to college, all that is wiped away. These top-performing students are competing to be the top 10% of their university. Only a handful of students can be in the new top 10%. Some of those students who were in the top 10% of their high school will soon find themselves at the bottom half of their university. To those students, I will impart some knowledge that was given to me: What do they call a medical student who graduates at the bottom of his class? A doctor.
I asked the question at the beginning of this blog: What are we becoming? I’m not sure. However, I am praying that the younger generation will learn to be competitive – meaning they want to be the best, but know that coming in second is not a failure but an opportunity to correct their mistakes, improve, and try again. I pray that they always enjoy learning, growing, and continually challenge themselves. I pray that they will find a place that feels like home and that they don’t feel the need to leave due to FOMO. Because feeling at home is not a bad thing as long as you make sure you’re performing the maintenance and making the necessary improvements. I guess that’s what I would have liked to have been taught my first semester freshman year in college.
Until next time!
R.R. Peace, Author and Poet 