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Minimum Grade
http://cafehayek.com/ ^ | February 24, 2013 | Don Boudreaux

Posted on 02/26/2013 5:49:29 AM PST by BO Stinkss

WASHINGTON (CH) – In a bold effort to improve the educational fortunes of students who perform at academic levels significantly below the average of their peers, Congress has mandated a minimum grade to be assigned to each student in each course taught at any school in the country. Starting in September, it shall be unlawful for any teacher, professor, or instructor charged with assigning course grades to assign to any student a grade lower than C-.

Sponsors of the Fair Academic Standards Act decry the injustice that occurs each time a student earns a low grade, such as a D or an F. ”It’s impossible for students with ‘D’s and ‘F’s on their transcripts to succeed as they deserve in life,” remarked Sen. Bernie Franken, an Independent from Elitia. ”This law ensures that no American will ever again suffer that hardship.”

Opponents of the Act worry that the requirement of a minimum grade will prompt schools to refuse to enroll students whose academic preparation or skills aren’t yet sufficient to enable them actually to earn good grades.

Sen. Paul Rand, an outspoken opponent of the bill, admits that ‘D’s and ‘F’s are poor grades that are not likely to win good jobs for students that have many such grades on their transcripts. Sen. Rand argues, however, that the Act will steer schools away from enrolling less-prepared students and, as a consequence, deny these very students the opportunity to acquire the education that will enable them in the future to perform better in the classroom. ”It’s an unintended bad consequence of Sen. Franken’s good intentions,” suggests Sen. Rand.

Sen. Franken and other supporters of the Act disagree. ”I can show you several studies, by prominent professors of education at Ivy League universities, that make clear that this Act will in no way diminish schools’ willingness to enroll all the students who seek enrollment,” said Sen. Franken. ”Opponents of this Act, frankly, are simply indifferent to the plight of academically challenged students and wish to deny to these students the benefits that are enjoyed by their more-talented classmates. My colleagues and I merely wish to ensure that these benefits are spread more equitably. It’s the fair thing to do.”

Sen. Rand responds by insisting that grades should accurately reflect each student’s actual performance in class. He says that the minimum-grade requirement, to the extent that it doesn’t simply cause academically challenged students to be kept from enrolling in school, will result in report cards and school transcripts that are full of “lies” – grades that do not reflect each student’s actual performance. Sen. Rand worries that graduate schools and employers will be obliged to find other ways, beside grades, to assess the qualifications of students who apply for admission or for jobs. He worries that these other ways will be less accurate and more arbitrary than are course grades as these are currently assigned.

“That accusation is typical of Sen. Rand and his ilk,” alleges Paula Krueger, the influential columnist. ”Sen. Rand is bought and paid for by rich and privileged elites who know that a more fair distribution of school grades will threaten their and their friends’ hold on this country’s levers of power.” Ms. Krueger shakes her head in astonishment. ”I’m sure that some small subset of people actually believe the tales told by opponents of this Act, but they are clearly blinded by ideology. They’re enemies not only of less-fortunate Americans, but of science itself.”

Not that Ms. Krueger thinks the Act is ideal. ”It’s not perfect. In my view the minimum grade should be much higher. I think A-. And I’d also like to see the minimum grade indexed to grade inflation. That way all students in America, now and in the future, would be exceptionally high-achievers and very well educated. But the Act as it stands is at least a start. It’s progress.”

The President is expected to sign the bill at a Rose Garden ceremony on Tuesday.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: college; satire

Is this affirmative action or is this a way for colleges to keep the tuition dollars coming in?

This, and a minimum wage increase, will assure that all Americans are rich and smart!

1 posted on 02/26/2013 5:49:40 AM PST by BO Stinkss
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To: BO Stinkss

Just another form of redistribution. And students who rightfully deserve Cs for their work, will have to be given Bs. Etc.

Ridiculous!


2 posted on 02/26/2013 5:56:12 AM PST by maica (Welcome to post-rational America.)
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To: BO Stinkss

rendering the grades themselves completely meaningless


3 posted on 02/26/2013 5:58:14 AM PST by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: BO Stinkss

Since you haven’t labeled this as “satire”, I’ll go ahead and assume that it is true.

Instead of requiring, by law that each student receive “minimum grades”, perhaps congress and the dumb ass president should just mandate that every student should be smart.


4 posted on 02/26/2013 5:59:11 AM PST by Graybeard58 (_.. ._. .. _. _._ __ ___ ._. . ___ ..._ ._ ._.. _ .. _. .)
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To: BO Stinkss

It used to be that, if you didn’t perform, you got held back a grade until you got it right. Over the years, holding back students because they didn’t do the work has all but disappeared. Of course, those students then struggle even more in the next grade because they’re not prepared to do the work, but the teachers keep passing them through the system. Then they “graduate” with nothing more than an attendance degree and they can’t figure out why they can’t keep a job. This proposal is simply the expected outcome of the “every-child-is-a-winner” philosophy that leaves those kids ill-prepared to function in the real world. What a stupid idea.


5 posted on 02/26/2013 6:00:28 AM PST by econjack (Some people are as dumb as soup.)
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To: BO Stinkss

“Sen. Paul Rand”? That tells me it’s satire or the author is really stupid.


6 posted on 02/26/2013 6:01:04 AM PST by Graybeard58 (_.. ._. .. _. _._ __ ___ ._. . ___ ..._ ._ ._.. _ .. _. .)
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To: BO Stinkss

Wow, I could have used that in Geometry and French 5.


7 posted on 02/26/2013 6:02:33 AM PST by heylady (“Sometimes I wish I could be a Democrat and then I remember I have a soul.”( Deb))
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To: BO Stinkss

Please tell me this is satire!


8 posted on 02/26/2013 6:03:50 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
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To: BO Stinkss

This is satire.


9 posted on 02/26/2013 6:06:19 AM PST by Iron Munro (I miss America, don't you?)
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To: Graybeard58

Yes. Satire


10 posted on 02/26/2013 6:10:42 AM PST by BO Stinkss
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To: Graybeard58

‘Since you haven’t labeled this as “satire”’

This MUST be satire.


11 posted on 02/26/2013 6:12:32 AM PST by Delta Dawn
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To: Redleg Duke

Satire of the minimum wage argument.


12 posted on 02/26/2013 6:15:40 AM PST by BO Stinkss
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To: BO Stinkss

And so far those responding to this have earned “Cs” across the board.


13 posted on 02/26/2013 6:17:14 AM PST by Lord Azrael
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To: BO Stinkss

Used to be the day that a post like this could be immediately identified as sarcasm. What with the thinking in Government these days, its not so easy any more.


14 posted on 02/26/2013 6:18:12 AM PST by Paradox (Unexpected things coming for the next few years.)
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To: BO Stinkss

So D and E are the new average. I guess that is bout right, more failing students become the average for today’s PS’s. Is dropping out the new Graduation?

Homeschool. It’s the ONLY way.


15 posted on 02/26/2013 6:18:49 AM PST by rightly_dividing
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To: BO Stinkss

I don’t believe it. Where is the documentation. This is impossible.


16 posted on 02/26/2013 6:35:41 AM PST by Dudoight
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To: BO Stinkss

Most definitely sarcasm - to a conservative.

But, a much wanted improvement in our ability to be just and humane to a libtard.

May all libs have pilots for their planes, and surgeons for their bodies, and designers for their electronics who possess the same abilities of the ultimate quota baby - the Obamadork.


17 posted on 02/26/2013 6:41:07 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: BO Stinkss

I hate you cuz you posted this first.


18 posted on 02/26/2013 6:51:36 AM PST by Lazamataz (Republicans have the same policies as the Democrats, except for the part where they win elections.)
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