The news is filled with outrage about AIG, and other Wall Street companies. Seems that they paid out large bonuses, to everyone. Think about it: even though these people did terrible work, and lost billions, they still get bonuses, because they worked hard, or at least they came to work.
I bet a lot of faculty tut-tutted about AIG over their morning New York Times, Starbucks and double-fiber bran muffin. Then you went to your office and graded a midterm where the low overall grade was an A-. You poor little students. It doesn't matter that your work was appalling. You tried hard. You should still get a high grade.
On the first day of class this semester, I had a waiting list of 10 for a large class. I announced in class that I would be giving real grades. "At least ten percent of you will get 'C's; maybe more," I told the assembled throng. The next day, the waiting list was 11, and no one had dropped.
The fact is that if you teach a real course, with real content, you can give real grades. If you don't, then you can't. And if you don't give real grades, then you are the cause behind the new AIG mindset: I showed up. Give me my bonus.
Michael C. Munger
Chair, Political Science Dept.
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