Re: Are 'we' too negative?

On 9/7/2024 2:40 AM, JAB wrote:

On 06/09/2024 16:37, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

Blame American school system.
>
Once upon a time, it was decided that an "average" student should be
able to answer 70% of the problems on a test. If they answered fewer
correctly, that meant the student was struggling; more meant the
student was 'above average'. This decision rapidly codified into the
grading system every American child becomes familiar with. A grade of
60% or less was a sign of failure.

 When I did my O and A levels in the UK many years ago the system was based around your score vs. the score of everyone else who sat the exam. So, can't remember the exact numbers but it was something like the top 5% got an A, the next 15% a B, then the largest portion was C, and that was considered average, and the then D and E were the opposite of B and A.
 

"Grading on the curve."  Used by some college/university teachers in the US as well.  Known to be inaccurate because a 30-100 student class is NOT going to have the same distribution of "smart" as a population of millions.  As is pointed out by many students.  Teachers defense of that system usually boils down to "Life isn't fair, this reflects the way employers will treat you so get used to being screwed."
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I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky dirty old man.