Idea: Students can "share" grades

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Upon much serious observation, I've noticed a problem.

We have quite a few students with poor grades. Not only will they suffer problems getting a job, meeting graduation requirements, etc., but the school's rankings will be brought down by their bad grades.

My solution? We redistribute grades! It's actually really simple. You set a maximum GPA to 3.0. If you're a 4.0 student, 1.0 gets placed into a "GPA bank." We'll create a group that takes this bank and distributes it among those that need it the most... the students with a 1.0 get it and hopefully improve to a 2.0.

They will graduate, we'll decrease the growing gap between the best performers and lowest performers, and we'll end up with a system where we take care of each other.

I've come to learn that if we do this, we will show that grades are really distributed, not created. If one person does well, it means another is harmed, because it just wouldn't make sense to have a system where everyone can be better off when good grades are earned. Did I mention that the 4.0 student who gets a 3.0 will still be okay? He'll get a good job, live a happy life, etc. Maybe he has to take a cut somewhere along the line, but it's okay, because he can live happy knowing someone else is now being helped.

I haven't been back on AT in a while, but I really hope people will understand where I'm coming from.

Counters? I did hear someone make this analogy - Taking away the 1.0 from 300x 4.0 students (for 4 years) is a total of 1200 GPA points. If the average student earns a 3.0 every year, then this is the equivalent of 400 man years being enslaved. 400 student-years are spent studying to earn a 4.0 and then given away. I've been told that this is like slavery. Surely they must be joking, right?

 

[ForumMaster]

What would be the incentive to earn a 4.0 GPA? More so, if you earn a low gpa cause you're stupid, you shouldn't receive supplementary GPA. gpa is not and cannot replace real education.

If this happens, dump/lazy people will get into places that they shouldn't. The GPA exists for a reason.

I personally don't think this is a good idea. You're trying to socialize the job market. Why? It is, and always will be capitalist. The best will succeed.

 

[Throckmorton]

You are so clever!

Here's my idea. Each school gets a set number of grade points. Every student starts with some points, but the amount each student gets is random. Some will get 1000, some just 1 or 2. Every time you get an F you lose 10 grade points. If you get a D you lose 5. A C makes you lose 3. If you get a B you gain 1. If you get an A you gain 2. But what if you don't have grade points to give when you get a grade below a B? Don't worry, it will be possible to have negative grade points, and your negative GPA will accrue a nominal amount of interest. You can also give points away freely, so if you really wanted to earn grade points you could trade sexual favors for them.

 

[sonicdrummer20]

You are so clever!

Here's my idea. Each school gets a set number of grade points. Every student starts with some points, but the amount each student gets is random. Some will get 1000, some just 1 or 2. Every time you get an F you lose 10 grade points. If you get a D you lose 5. A C makes you lose 3. If you get a B you gain 1. If you get an A you gain 2. But what if you don't have grade points to give when you get a grade below a B? Don't worry, it will be possible to have negative grade points, and your negative GPA will accrue a nominal amount of interest. You can also give points away freely, so if you really wanted to earn grade points you could trade sexual favors for them.

Now thats Capitolism!

 

[halik]

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

On a more serious note - does this kind of thinking bother anyone? At the very fundamentals of it, you can replace grades with money, and you get very similar arguments, don't you?

Money, like the wealth it represents, is created, not distributed.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Grades are a reflection of qualifications/competence

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Grades are a reflection of qualifications/competence

What about money? Does money represent the value that we create for others?

 

[Matthiasa]

Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:<catchy title>

Why are you posting junk mail?

Though since you are going along with that analogy those with 4.0/4.0 would actually have 400+/4.0 (where an A+ is 4.0) rather then a 4.0/4.0.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

What about money? Does money represent the value that we create for others?

There is a correlation between success and money, but it is not definite. In school, there is a much closer correlation between applying oneself to learn and a high GPA.

The idea of redistributing GPA points is just retarded - it undermines the very reason for having the system, which is to measure academic performance. If kids who do badly just get more from the kids who do well, what is their incentive to do better?

 

[bfdd]

There is a correlation between success and money, but it is not definite. In school, there is a much closer correlation between applying oneself to learn and a high GPA.

The idea of redistributing GPA points is just retarded - it undermines the very reason for having the system, which is to measure academic performance. If kids who do badly just get more from the kids who do well, what is their incentive to do better?

People generally have to apply themselves to earn money. You don't exactly get paid sitting on the sofa.... well now a days you do so nevermind.

 

[soccerballtux]

Upon much serious observation, I've noticed a problem.

We have quite a few students with poor grades. Not only will they suffer problems getting a job, meeting graduation requirements, etc., but the school's rankings will be brought down by their bad grades.

My solution? We redistribute grades! It's actually really simple. You set a maximum GPA to 3.0. If you're a 4.0 student, 1.0 gets placed into a "GPA bank." We'll create a group that takes this bank and distributes it among those that need it the most... the students with a 1.0 get it and hopefully improve to a 2.0.

They will graduate, we'll decrease the growing gap between the best performers and lowest performers, and we'll end up with a system where we take care of each other.

I've come to learn that if we do this, we will show that grades are really distributed, not created. If one person does well, it means another is harmed, because it just wouldn't make sense to have a system where everyone can be better off when good grades are earned. Did I mention that the 4.0 student who gets a 3.0 will still be okay? He'll get a good job, live a happy life, etc. Maybe he has to take a cut somewhere along the line, but it's okay, because he can live happy knowing someone else is now being helped.

I haven't been back on AT in a while, but I really hope people will understand where I'm coming from.

Counters? I did hear someone make this analogy - Taking away the 1.0 from 300x 4.0 students (for 4 years) is a total of 1200 GPA points. If the average student earns a 3.0 every year, then this is the equivalent of 400 man years being enslaved. 400 student-years are spent studying to earn a 4.0 and then given away. I've been told that this is like slavery. Surely they must be joking, right?

I see what you're trying, but you have to be more subtle. Trust me. Liberals are devilishly good at it. Be wise as a serpent, my friend. This is too obvious.

 

[SamurAchzar]

Will you be starting school off with your father's GPA?

 

[bfdd]

Will you be starting school off with your father's GPA?

That doesn't really matter with this analogy. The father who earned the GPA, and enough of it to pass on, was already accounted for and the person living outside of the GPA system would not ever step into it. He hadn't earned anything and effectively has a GPA of 0.0

 

[Infohawk]

There haven't been a lot of actual rebuttals, just troll allegations.

 

[Brainonska511]

There haven't been a lot of actual rebuttals, just troll allegations.

That's because grades are not a valid analogy for arguing about taxes.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Grades are a reflection of qualifications/competence

What about money? Does money represent the value that we create for others?

Money reflects the value that others put on ourselves.

I would not someone that can not do algebra but has a weighted 3.0 to design somehting that my life could depend on.

 

[bfdd]

Money reflects the value that others put on ourselves.

I would not someone that can not do algebra but has a weighted 3.0 to design somehting that my life could depend on.

^ you use a lot of things that were invented by people that couldn't do algebra. that's silly

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

That's because grades are not a valid analogy for arguing about taxes.

Why not? You earn your grades just like you earn your money.

We have the ability to give out more A's if students do very well, just as we have the ability to create money to represent the increase in production. Wealth, like grades, is created, not distributed.

 

[Tristicus]

Grades are a reflection of qualifications/competence

Yeah fucking right.

 

[Throckmorton]

Why not? You earn your grades just like you earn your money.

We have the ability to give out more A's if students do very well, just as we have the ability to create money to represent the increase in production. Wealth, like grades, is created, not distributed.

You seem to believe that we live in some kind of communist meritocracy.

 

[JSt0rm]

how about my idea.

There are only 5 a+ per school per grade. If you family has a lot of money and can donate to the school then you are automatically in the running for a A+. There will be 10 A's and 20 b+ and 40 B's per grade per school. This way only those families that truely work hard can afford a 4.0gpa.

 

[Pulsar]

You are so clever!

Here's my idea. Each school gets a set number of grade points. Every student starts with some points, but the amount each student gets is random. Some will get 1000, some just 1 or 2. Every time you get an F you lose 10 grade points. If you get a D you lose 5. A C makes you lose 3. If you get a B you gain 1. If you get an A you gain 2. But what if you don't have grade points to give when you get a grade below a B? Don't worry, it will be possible to have negative grade points, and your negative GPA will accrue a nominal amount of interest. You can also give points away freely, so if you really wanted to earn grade points you could trade sexual favors for them.

You are so clever!

Except, REAL economies CREATE value. There is no limited supply.

 

[Pulsar]

how about my idea.

There are only 5 a+ per school per grade. If you family has a lot of money and can donate to the school then you are automatically in the running for a A+. There will be 10 A's and 20 b+ and 40 B's per grade per school. This way only those families that truely work hard can afford a 4.0gpa.

Oh, look. Another person with the same leaning as throckmorton stuck in the same loop.

Money is not limited. Wealth can be created. You can ADD value to worthless items through manufacturing.

Redistribution is socialism, and hampers competition and discourages innovation, independence, and any number of other positive qualities.

 

[Pulsar]

There haven't been a lot of actual rebuttals, just troll allegations.

There hasn't been a single actual rebuttal, because in the end this isn't something you can argue.

This reminds me of the leftist arguments about health care. Pretty clear that if more is required of the insurance agencies, then they will require more money. 2 + 2 = 4.

In this case, while you won't discourage people from getting 4.0 grades (because some people simply ARE achievers), you certainly discourage the bottom half from pulling themselves up. Remind me again why half the people in this country don't pay taxes again, and why a huge chunk of those people live on government programs LONG TERM.