Student Grades

      In the article, Student Expectations Seen as Causing Grade Disputes, I do believe, Professor Grossman is not too far off the mark when he says, "I tell my classes that if they just do what they are supposed to do and meet the standard requirements, that they will earn a C;" he then says "that is the default grade. They see the default grade as an A."  First of all I have never viewed a C as an A; although a C is a passing grade, and for the most part, one can get by on a C grade by fulfilling the basic requirements to be considered a successful college student. I also believe that the C attitude is justified by a majority of students due to a number of different reasons. I, myself, have yet to receive a C grade in a course; if and when I do, because it could happen, it simply means I could have done better. Although my peers would disagree and say "C is for certificate," a phrase I hear often, and I think most agree with.

    

     Students who feel they are entitled to a good grade may be caused by several different factors. First, who set the grading standards, and why is it that students are even asked about what grade they expect to get? Second, we are all familiar with our parents saying "do what you are told," and that whatever we did was good enough. Lastly, I think parents are definitely the biggest factor influencing their children to believe that they are entitled as students to receive good grades. As a parent I feel it is my responsibility to teach my children that they get what they put into it.

     In my honest opinion the article was somewhat informative. I did not realize, prior to reading the article, that so many students feel a sense of entitlement when it comes to grades, or that so many students felt a C grade is as good as an A grade.  Grades should be earned based on the effort one puts into it. For example: I just took a computer exam and because I had made the choice to use my study time for party time before the exam I knew that I was going to have to sacrifice some part of the exam due to not having enough time to study everything. Therefore I did good in the area's I studied and spent time on and not so good in the area's I did not put the effort into. Plain and simple, I am responsible for my actions, no one else is to blame.

To view the article click on the link below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/education/18college.html