http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/education/18college.html?em
After reading the attached article I find it very interesting and agree with the overall concept.
If professor Grossman would let the class know what they could do for an "A" that would make the statement "I tell my classes that if they just do what they are supposed to do and meet the standard requirement, then they will earn a C" more palpable. People who want to go to college want to make a better life for themselves. If you do not offer them a chance to excel then they will learn to only do the bare minimum to pass the class. This will reflect on their outlook in the work force. If a teacher doesn't offer an opportunity for their students to reach for a high mark then they need to give Pass, Fail grades not A's or B's. In saying that, I think it is very important the a teacher communicated to the class what it takes to pass their class. and if I understand correctly a "D" is a passing grade.
We need to remember why students think the way they do. In our education system educators want to see the students get higher grades because it is a reflection on their teaching the concepts to the class. If the student receives a poor grade on the test, it reflects on the teacher's teaching methods. So, then you add the parent into the mix and they want Johnny to at least get a "B" in every class but expects an "A". If Johnny doesn't get that "B" it cannot be Johnny's fault. So the parent will research and see if Johnny has an learning disability, and will find one at any cost. Then Johnny is placed on a "EIP". which will give Johnny an advantage over students who are not on an "EIP". Then lets say no one was able to detect a learning disability for Johnny then it has got to be the teacher. The teacher doesn't like Johnny and that is why he isn't getting good grades, is what the parents will say. So now we have a society that expects "A" and if they don't get an "A" it can't be the students fault.
In my honest opinion, I feel that it is important that you learn the concept of what is being taught. I will say that it is harder for some to catch those concepts than others and yes they may need to put a little more effort into getting the concepts down. But, at the end of the day the student need to know what is being taught.
I have a brother who received his High School Diploma and can't read higher than a 4 grader. If in grade school the teachers would have stopped and taken a look at why, tackled the problem, then school would not have been as difficult for him. Instead, because he was getting B's and C's and A's in some classes (like: Auto mechanics, Wood Shop, PE) it was a rude awakening to my parents when they found out the their 20 year old son couldn't read. This is a prime example why we need to take a look at our education system and see what we need to do differently.
