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Breakpoint

The Problem With "Academic Inflation"

Breakpoint

Colson Center

News, Religion & Spirituality, News Commentary, Christianity

4.82.8K Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2023

⏱️ 1 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

According to English teacher Tim Donahue, academic inflation is as real as economic inflation. In the 1960s, around 15% of grades given at colleges were "A." As of 2017, it was nearly 50%. Meanwhile SAT scores fell by 20 points and, by 2023, ACT scores reached the worst scores in three decades 

This, Donahue says, could explain why "65 percent of Americans feel they are smarter than average." 

The purpose of grades is to provide feedback, a way humans learn and grow. But in a world where it is assumed that truth is found within, the purpose of grades becomes affirmation for doing the work, not to measure what was learned.  

According to Donahue,  "If everyone gets an A, no one gets an A," so teachers should "consider the B-plus." But that won't do any good unless students are taught that truth exists outside of themselves, can be found, and should be pursued over and above affirmation and self-expression. 

For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, visit Colsoncenter.org

 

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

With a

0:04.1

look at culture from a Christian worldview, I'm John Stone Street with the point.

0:04.4

According to English teacher Tim Donahue, academic inflation is Israel's economic

0:08.5

inflation. The 1960s, about 15% of grades given at colleges were in A.

0:13.2

In 2017, it was nearly 50%.

0:15.8

And meanwhile, SAT scores fell by 20 points and by 2023, ACT scores reached the worst

0:21.0

in three decades.

0:22.3

This, Donna Hughes says, could explain why, quote,

0:24.8

65% of Americans feel they're smarter than average. The purpose of grades is to provide feedback.

0:30.3

It's a way humans learn and grow. But in a world in which it is assumed that truth is found within, the purpose of grades becomes reduced down to just affirmation for doing work, not measuring what's been learned.

0:42.0

According to Donahue, if everyone gets an A, then no one gets an A.

0:45.0

So teachers should consider giving a B-plus,

0:47.0

but that won't do any good unless students are taught first

0:50.0

that truth exists outside of themselves,

0:53.0

that it can be found,

0:54.2

and that it should be pursued over and above

0:56.6

affirmation and self-expression.

0:58.5

I'm John Stone Street.

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