GPAs

12 THE BEGINNING

A grading scale is in place to keep students accountable and organized with the grades they may hold. Grades are dreaded by every student at the end of each semester, and often, validation is placed in the hands of what these letters mean.

Yale University developed the first grading system when it transferred from the Latin terms: Optimi (best), Second Optimi (second best), Inferiores (lower), and Perjores (lowest); to a four-number level system. 0-4, 2 serving as the passing point.

Other universities such as Harvard formed their own way of determining how students were doing in classes and soon, grading was a common practice in education. It wasn’t until the 1940’s when the A-F system was established.

NOW

Currently, the average national GPA stands at a 3.0. In core academic courses, however, grade point averages are slightly lower. What does this mean? Students are struggling specifically in math, English, science, and social studies. Other non curricular courses such as foreign language average at a GPA of about 3.14. In comparison to the 1940s, when the GPA became prominent in schools, American grade point averages are about .32 higher. This improvement could be due to students being more used to the system, or something called grade inflation. Grade inflation is the assigning of grades higher than previously assigned for given levels of achievement, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Grade inflation is a recurring problem that has come to the attention of professors such as Harvey Mansfield in 2013. Mansfield, a professor at Harvard university, displayed distress regarding a frequently given, A-. Emotions such as sympathy that come with giving grades are messing up how students really perform. If a professor hands out a grade order for the student to feel better about themself, it destroys the entire grading system.

HOW THE GPA SYSTEM AFFECTS STUDENTS

by Kerrigan Edwards, editor in chief

Junior Heaven Hilbig reflects on her relationship with the current grade point average system over the past few years.

Q: Do you feel that your GPA defines you as a person and if so, how? A: I don’t believe your GPA defines you as a person. We are all different and have completely unique lives and experiences. To have a system that’s so general define who you are as a person would be a crazy concept. Q: Do you think we should have a weighted GPA system for honors/AP classes? A: Having a weighted GPA system for honors and AP classes is a great idea. Those classes exceed the high school level, so I think that schools should recognize that through having a weighted GPA. Q: Have any of your teachers ever given you a sympathy/pity grade? A: I’ve never received a pity grade because I’ve always done all my work to the best of my ability through school, plus studying. I’ve kept a 4.0 with a lot of work so I’ve never really needed a pity grade. Q: Do you think we should find an alternative to the GPA system or do you believe that it is effective? A: It would be really hard to find an alternative that worked for everyone. If anything, maybe people shouldnt only take GPA into account, and start to look at other things. The GPA system works nicely at measuring the ability to perform well under what the education system has laid out, but anyone who doesnt fit that norm will struggle. Q: Do you feel that your GPA is a true reflection of the work you put in? A: Your GPA can show how much work you put in, but other times it can’t. LIke I said before, everyone is different. Some people spend hours on a certain subject and their grade will be poor, while others will spend little time and receive a high grade. Some people have a job to attend to

Qor siblings to take care of, that’s hard work. Maybe their GPA isn’t the best, but that doesn’t take away from the work in their everyday lives. Some people work very hard for their good grades and their GPA reflects that, it’s different for everyone. Q: What do you think about colleges who require a minimum GPA? A: I think colleges that require minimum GPA should maybe broaden their mindset and look to make some exceptions. I understand wanting the best, but sometimes the best people aren’t completely recognized.