03-15-2011, 04:45 AM
mrbigstuff wrote:
I never really complained about grades, as I recall. Perhaps I argued a test question here or there, if I felt there was an error. But I've been amazed these past few years at the level of entitlement students feel in bargaining for points and grades
this is exactly what I was going to say.
when I got shitty grades in college (and I got a few), I never argued the grade to the point of whining, but plenty of my classmates did. these were mostly prep school and private school kids who pooped ice cream. I was not raised to argue if I felt it was fair and I f#$%ed up and thought it not only uncouth but just plain pandering. I wasn't going to stoop.
but, much to my disgust, the teachers often did amend, or re-work, or even - gasp! - change the frikkin grade on the paper.
Unfortunately, those days are gone. Entitlement is the norm now. I think it changed sometime in the 80's-90's, where the model shifted from the view of a student as a educational product/scholar (with potential to eventually become a teacher themselves!) to the view of a student as a consumer. So when students and parents view themselves as consumers, they feel entitled to stoop, to pander, to beg, to whine, and yes, to go over instructors in order to get grades changed. Welcome to "Fast Food Grade Nation", where grades are served up like burgers, and instructors are essentially asking if you'd like fries with that.