I've been wondering about the whole grade inflation idea, as have all of you, for years.
In light of this, I'm curious how all of you grade, and thus if you might be *seen* to be guilty, based on the grades in your courses. We all know that some years you just seem to have a lot of bright, hard-working achievers, and some years you don't. So....do you think it's acceptable, worthwhile and ethical for us to compare grades? I'll be the first to offer my gradebook, from the last several years and from three different colleges, but only if you all agree that it's something to consider and would be a worthwhile topic. Naturally, names of students shouldn't be used, nor should the names of the colleges. (I've actually taught at five different colleges in the last nine years and I could pull up grades from all of them. And I would not divulge which grades came from where. Perhaps, in the interest of anonymity, if you've only taught at one college and recoil at the thought of having your home base publicized, you could ask another member of TIPS to post your grades without your name. This is particularly important to consider knowing that TIPS is able to be viewed by anyone. While it might not be unethical to post grades that are known to come from just one school, it would be likely to be insensitive to the administration.) Also, if there is such a thing as grade inflation, it shouldn't matter whether you teach at a high school, a community college, a 4-year college, university, etc. Grade inflation *appears* to exist everywhere. So what think you, colleagues? If you think it's a good idea, let's do it. But if I've overlooked some slumbering dragon, then I'll let this idea die. Beth Benoit Granite State College (now) Plymouth State University (now) and three others I shall not name... --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
