zlacker

A decade ago my high school had two buckets:

* students in mostly AP classes who were college bound

* students in no AP classes who were mostly not college bound, or were at least limited to community colleges and state schools (Which are great choices! But often have lower success rates and career outcomes)

For the AP students grades were a joke because all the teachers would happily give out extra credit to any student who wanted it, all in the name of college admissions.

For everyone else grades were a joke because all the students cared about was passing, and teachers REALLY wanted students to graduate, and would give grade bumps to any student who needed it.

I believe most schools suffer from this sort of grade inflation, to the point that grades are at best useful for loose categorization (i.e. A+ students, A-C students, F students) and thats it. It never was and never will be a true meritocracy at scale.

>>tmp_an+(OP)
That’s unfortunate. Twenty years ago I attended high school in a working class suburb. I was fortunate to get selected into a gifted program and had teachers who challenged me to work hard and overcome my surrounding. Changed my life and inspired a career as a data scientist and entrepreneur. I hope the younger generation can have the benefit of adults who care enough about them to challenge them to succeed, because the real world does not grade on the curve.

>>throwa+V
Rising class sizes, a ever expanding college-industrial-complex, and income inequality necessitating very specific career decisions, stop this I think.

Education-first initiatives don't seem to be popular in American politics.

>>tmp_an+91
Great point. It brings to mind an aphorism from Charlie Munger: “Show me the incentive, and I’ll show you the outcome”

>>tmp_an+(OP)
I knew so many valedictorians that flunked out at the state school I went to (University of Missouri - Rolla). High school is a garbage indicator for how well you'll do in life or further education.

>>throwa+V
Yes, the younger generation will not be prepared for the meritocracy that awaits them out in the real world.

>>throwa+q2
That guy has shown up so many times recently in HN posts.

>>throw9+Be
I was the school valedictorian. I never tried. I thought my casual ways would work in college. They didn't. I came within a hair of flunking out, until I realized that I had to attend all the lectures, do all the homework on time, and make sure I understood front to back every homework problem.

I can understand other valedictorians not doing well in college.

>>mek680+Wf
Is this a joke? Because while the real world is not graded on the curve, it is the very opposite of a meritocracy.

>>tmp_an+(OP)
I was with you until your last statement.

It extremely easy to make it a meritocracy: just impose an externally-graded exam at the end. Then, the students cannot cheat (because it won't be their teachers grading them), and the teachers don't have an incentive to cheat (because high grades with low final exam will reveal their fraud).

>>throw9+Be
Raw talent will only get you some distance, its the people who know how to bend down and work hard who will go the extra mile.