Message from Jack Smith about Grade Inflation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an MCPS parent, I would be willing to pay for my HS student to take a final exam on a weekend. Can this option be available to parents who care for and want this final exam?

To make it equitable - do not include this result in GPA and parents can fundraise for any non-paying FARMS students who want to take the test.

+1. The question of grades really is distinct from whether we should have final exams. Students need to learn how to take final exams and to maintain a grasp of what is learned over the course of a year. We are doing them a disservice by not making sure they have these experiences.

I'm certain they have plenty of exams with or without finals.

But finals play an important role in (a) assessing how the student has retained material through the year and built on what was learned throughout the class and (b) help the students to retain such information. Studying for finals is also a different skill from taking exams that cover a shorter length of time.

Whether we like it or not, in college (and even more so some graduate schools) a very significant portion of a student's grade is dependent on the final. I don't think it is a good idea for college to be one of the first times a student experiences a final exam.

But MCPS is more concerned about the achievement gap (or the appearance of an achievement gap) than preparing students to succeed at competitive colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an MCPS parent, I would be willing to pay for my HS student to take a final exam on a weekend. Can this option be available to parents who care for and want this final exam?

To make it equitable - do not include this result in GPA and parents can fundraise for any non-paying FARMS students who want to take the test.

+1. The question of grades really is distinct from whether we should have final exams. Students need to learn how to take final exams and to maintain a grasp of what is learned over the course of a year. We are doing them a disservice by not making sure they have these experiences.

Completely agree with both of you.

[Anonymous]

What a load of waffling.

America should look at OTHER countries, not US states, who have much more fine-grained universal grading systems. Points out of 20 for France, points out of 100 for Japan, for example. And none of these countries give out super grades like candy, they're very strict.

It's really not hard to change the grading system... but they're too lethargic to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What a load of waffling.

America should look at OTHER countries, not US states, who have much more fine-grained universal grading systems. Points out of 20 for France, points out of 100 for Japan, for example. And none of these countries give out super grades like candy, they're very strict.

It's really not hard to change the grading system... but they're too lethargic to do it.

This exactly

[Anonymous]

Well, I guess this reconfirms MCPS’s downward trend. Is his contract made public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I guess this reconfirms MCPS’s downward trend. Is his contract made public?

Only in DCUM fantasy land

[Anonymous]

I went to a very competitive college and only took maybe one final exam in four years. Most of my courses required research papers or something similar. (Note I was not a math or science major so maybe it’s different in those courses.)
But doesn’t the AP function as a final exam for most Advanced HS classes? I don’t remember final exams in any of my HS classes but I definitely remember the challenge of recalling and synthesizing all that information for APs.
I don’t really have a view on the grading question, except that I feel like every generation has complained that grading is too easy for the younger generation. It’s kind of ironic—it’s easier to get good grades but much harder to do anything with them, as the college and job market are so much more competitive!

[Anonymous]

In college, most have exams. They are failing these kids by not preparing them well via the curriculum (which will take years to get all the schools changed over), how the actual schools operate (ours denies basic supports to kids via IEP even though their own teachers identify the needs, etc. MCPS was lousy when some of us went years ago and still today they ride on reputation vs. substance.

[Anonymous]

Inflation is inflation regardless of how you spin it. The kids even know the game. I expect the same type scandal from MCPS that occurred from DCPS in regard to just passing kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a very competitive college and only took maybe one final exam in four years. Most of my courses required research papers or something similar. (Note I was not a math or science major so maybe it’s different in those courses.)
But doesn’t the AP function as a final exam for most Advanced HS classes? I don’t remember final exams in any of my HS classes but I definitely remember the challenge of recalling and synthesizing all that information for APs.
I don’t really have a view on the grading question, except that I feel like every generation has complained that grading is too easy for the younger generation. It’s kind of ironic—it’s easier to get good grades but much harder to do anything with them, as the college and job market are so much more competitive!

AP scores do not arrive until the summer. They can not be used as grades in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Counselors in the county have know for a whole that the system is messed up. Kids are put in too advanced classes to make numbers look good, then when they don’t do well, they miraculously can do “credit recovery” assignments after the semester ends. Meanwhile, As are losing their meaning, too.

[Anonymous]

*known for a while

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Counselors in the county have know for a whole that the system is messed up. Kids are put in too advanced classes to make numbers look good, then when they don’t do well, they miraculously can do “credit recovery” assignments after the semester ends. Meanwhile, As are losing their meaning, too.

That is the reason that APs and IBs are so important. You get a 5 in AP or a 7 in IB and you are gold. Couple that with excellent SATs, and take the most rigerous courses available and get straight As and you will be a good candidate.

[Anonymous]

However, some kids are not good test takers and are hurt when their grades mean less because the system isn’t accurately reflecting their hard work and knowledge.

[Anonymous]

The sky is falling!