University Grades

Sorry, this was too good to miss:

From the Irish Independent, on line:

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/john-walshe-rising-degree-of-alarm-at-thirdlevel-grade-inflation-2085138.html

The first half of the article is confusing because, unless one is really familiar with the grading system of Irish universities, there seems to be a difference between students who achieve A marks and the 50% of those who achieve greater than A. In North America, the grades stop at A/ A+, not so in Ireland. However, the main thought in the article indicates that students are graduating with marks that are not indicative of their intellectual calibre. The latter half of the piece then has a number of University Leaders, former heads, defending the grades and students' abilities despite examples to the contrary. There is an interesting remark made by Google IT professionals about why they toss some resumes into the garbage.

If this was purely an Irish innovation, this notion of grade inflation, then it could be considered an anomaly in the educational experience. Except...found in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/us/02obama.html?hpw

President Barack Obama is continuing the Bush program of punishing schools that fail standardized tests; thus, grades of successful students will not be linked to intellectual development but to test scores. Arguably, the first step on the rung to increased grade inflation. Ireland, and England for that matter, have long been dependent on standardized tests: A levels and O levels. One could make the argument, that within the next few years, more American students will graduate from University with high grades and low skills just like the Irish. And, obviously, with the same prospects...