Summary Of Why College Shower Students With A's By Brent Staples

Summary of “Why College Shower Students With A’s” by Brent Staples
In the marketplace, products of poor quality are able to sell based off of a shiny finish rather than a superior function, which is relatable to the education world where schools issue empty degrees. From community colleges to Ivy League schools, within a very short time period average scores have become excellent scores. Full-time teachers have several motives for handing out high grades: avoid unpopular class cancellation, submission to administrative pressure, and to earn promotions. Similarly, part-time teachers with less job security than their full time counterparts have cause to give in to pressure as well, succumbing to threats made by complaining students. There

are some schools, however, that do not follow this trend of pampering. One of these schools, the University of Phoenix, uses less traditional teaching methods, and has managed to become the largest private university in the country. Phoenix competes with schools both large and small, rousing fear in these schools since their students can complain and even sue for better grades, comparing theirs to Phoenix’ curriculum. In other words, in the past students had to accept the grade they received, now they are able to appeal their low grades for superficial higher grades. Students’ grades are not rising due to skill, but rather self-entitlement. These problems are not without solution, however. Schools could balance class-weight to spark interest in real degrees. On the other hand, when this solution was proposed, anonymous groups agreed and students, faculty, and families disagreed. In the end, the system will stay the same, and diplomas will depreciate in value.