Dublin Core
Title
"18401 - topics: grades
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The discourse around Upass has mainly revolved around how grades hurt lower income students disproportionately affected by the pandemic, who are unable to study in the....
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The discourse around Upass has mainly revolved around how grades hurt lower income students disproportionately affected by the pandemic, who are unable to study in the....
Publisher
Dear Blueno
Date
April 1, 2020
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
"18401 - topics: grades
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The discourse around Upass has mainly revolved around how grades hurt lower income students disproportionately affected by the pandemic, who are unable to study in the same circumstances of those more fortunate (if at all!). This is indisputable, and I’m not here to invalidate those experiences.
But this discourse misses the point of our grading system: as a measurement of course material understanding and a student’s ability to advance to higher level learning. A professor should give you a pass not because you tried really hard, despite your trying circumstances, but because you have demonstrated learning and mastery over course work.
Using grades as a safety net to support students particularly struggling in this trying time undermines our very academic system, and if anything, hurts more members of the community. What happens when people who have not fully grasped the material move onto harder classes and are unable to keep up? The negative cycle only continues.
“Leveling the playing field” for grad schools applications, employers, higher level classes misses the point. Passing a class is a measurement of learning, not just another stellar feature on your resume.
The grading system that we have right now will always disproportionately hurt lower income individuals- pandemic or not. Maybe this is an opportunity for us to reimagine that system, but while we do that, let’s focus instead on thinking of ways we can support each other to LEARN: through stronger study groups, shared class notes, and empathy and understanding.
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The discourse around Upass has mainly revolved around how grades hurt lower income students disproportionately affected by the pandemic, who are unable to study in the same circumstances of those more fortunate (if at all!). This is indisputable, and I’m not here to invalidate those experiences.
But this discourse misses the point of our grading system: as a measurement of course material understanding and a student’s ability to advance to higher level learning. A professor should give you a pass not because you tried really hard, despite your trying circumstances, but because you have demonstrated learning and mastery over course work.
Using grades as a safety net to support students particularly struggling in this trying time undermines our very academic system, and if anything, hurts more members of the community. What happens when people who have not fully grasped the material move onto harder classes and are unable to keep up? The negative cycle only continues.
“Leveling the playing field” for grad schools applications, employers, higher level classes misses the point. Passing a class is a measurement of learning, not just another stellar feature on your resume.
The grading system that we have right now will always disproportionately hurt lower income individuals- pandemic or not. Maybe this is an opportunity for us to reimagine that system, but while we do that, let’s focus instead on thinking of ways we can support each other to LEARN: through stronger study groups, shared class notes, and empathy and understanding.
"
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