What the hell's the point of grades?

[Movies205]

Considering a great deal of the populous here is high school students, this perhaps strikes even greater relevance with them since grade in High School are even more useless. I finished my first year of college and I'm left staring at the grading system, wondering what's the point? Like seriously, there's a culture devoted to the grading of one's intelligence, hell we have things like the bell-curve, where we have it down to a science as to what your potential will be according to race. We have IQ tests and various other things, and then we have grades. And I'm left baffled... Because what in god's name does a GPA have to do with the real-world? Bah, I've always hated the rat-race known as school, it just seems all relatively pointless in the greater scheme of things.

 

[The Riddler]

college gpa ====> grad school ====> moneys.

at least for me.

 

[Movies205]

college gpa ====> grad school ====> moneys.

at least for me.

Yeah I get that, my grades are good, and I shouldn't have any trouble with grad school, but people act like having a high GPA is such an achievement, but it such a frickin rat race.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

Education should be about expanding one's knowledge and intelligence. Now it has merely become a tool used to groom us for a life of servitude to the almighty dollar.

 

[Kmack]

I guess it kinda serves as a pat on the back...if you do good

 

[The Riddler]

Yeah I get that, my grades are good, and I shouldn't have any trouble with grad school, but people act like having a high GPA is such an achievement, but it such a frickin rat race.

high gpa's ARE an achievment, but they don't do ANYTHING for you enless you really apply it.

also, gpa's in college ARE a rat race. curves and all that...

 

[Ghostvirus]

Education should be about expanding one's knowledge and intelligence. Now it has merely become a tool used to groom us for a life of servitude to the almighty dollar.

Well said.

 

[Movies205]

Education should be about expanding one's knowledge and intelligence. Now it has merely become a tool used to groom us for a life of servitude to the almighty dollar.

See that's what I mean... I'm more proud of the fact that I can talk about different philosophies of Human Nature, or discuss various political theories international politics or some numbers... Like I look at my grades, and there good... But I wonder, I spent all this time, getting this grade but for what... It some frickin number... School is such a wierd institution...

 

[The Riddler]

Education should be about expanding one's knowledge and intelligence. Now it has merely become a tool used to groom us for a life of servitude to the almighty dollar.

what an idealist.

intelligence, knowledge, gets you nowhere if you don't use it to earn money.

 

[Movies205]

what an idealist.

intelligence, knowledge, gets you nowhere if you don't use it to earn money.

Fo'Sure... Seriously I need to make some mad loot whenz I gats outz da hood formally known as colidge!

 

[SLVRSR4]

THe corporations man! Everything can be traced back to them!

 

[The Riddler]

Fo'Sure... Seriously I need to make some mad loot whenz I gats outz da hood formally known as colidge!

said well.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

We've had the same public school system for the past two-hundred years. It was initially designed to prepare students for factory jobs, and ended around the 8th grade. It's been elongated, and changed in some respects, but it still retains it's original factory syle, from the top down type of system. The purpose of school work now, as it was two-hundred years ago, is to teach us something quickly, study for a test, take a test, and move on to the next topic. The tests, the grades are all indicators of how well and how much we were able to "learn" in that school system, which then allows us into better colleges, and thusly to better jobs once we graduate. But that fact that the very purpose of the American school system is to prepare us for the "real world", or bascially having a job and making money, is incrediblly shallow. It only continues the perpetual system of capitalism, which is sadly more important to us then to any other generation of Americans before us. We are surrounded by it, and our opinions, beliefs, actions, even morals are all influenced and controlled by it in some manner, which continues the perpetual existence of human greed, selfishness, and ambition.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

what an idealist.

intelligence, knowledge, gets you nowhere if you don't use it to earn money.

I'll admit that I'm a huge idealist. But the fact that we can recognize and discuss whats wrong with us gives me hope that we can change it.

 

[The Riddler]

We've had the same public school system for the past two-hundred years. It was initially designed to prepare students for factory jobs, and ended around the 8th grade. It's been elongated, and changed in some respects, but it still retains it's original factory syle, from the top down type of system. The purpose of school work now, as it was two-hundred years ago, is to teach us something quickly, study for a test, take a test, and move on to the next topic. The tests, the grades are all indicators of how well and how much we were able to "learn" in that school system, which then allows us into better colleges, and thusly to better jobs once we graduate. But that fact that the very purpose of the American school system is to prepare us for the "real world", or bascially having a job and making money, is incrediblly shallow. It only continues the perpetual system of capitalism, which is sadly more important to us then to any other generation of Americans before us. We are surrounded by it, and our opinions, beliefs, actions, even morals are all influenced and controlled by it in some manner, which continues the perpetual existence of human greed, selfishness, and ambition.

so i take it you're not satisifed with the current state?

capitalism will forever mark this nation.

greed, selfishness and ambition are human traits. they have been present since the beginning of man and will continue to be until the end. these traits are spurred on by nothing else but human nature.

 

[Deep Thinkin'!]

I figured this out when I was in the first grade.

 

[The Riddler]

I figured this out when I was in the first grade.

hush.

the adults are speaking.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

so i take it you're not satisifed with the current state?

capitalism will forever mark this nation.

greed, selfishness and ambition are human traits. they have been present since the beginning of man and will continue to be until the end. these traits are spurred on by nothing else but human nature.

I am unsatisfied with the "current state". We're bombarded by thousands of advertisements per day, wheter on TV, billboards, even clothing worn by other people. As adults, it may not have a huge influence on us, but children are far more easily influenced. Its painfully obvious that the culture, or lack thereof, of young people in this country is being dictated to them by corporations hoping to capitalize. I'm not saying that capitalism is bad completely, in fact it is necessary part of human interaction. However, the emphasis placed on it now is astoundingly dangerous, and the risk of de facto control of money and those seeking to take it on those of the younger generations is a very real problem because someday we will be gone, and they will be the ones making the decisions that will continue or extinguish the human race.

Greed, selfishness, and ambition are in fact human traits, and will most likely never be eliminated. And this is a good thing. A certain amount of these traits are needed to even survive. But what one must consider is that selflessness, compassion, and empathy are the innate human traits on the other end of the spectrum, and if they are to be employed more often, it could improve the lives of not just the individual, but more importantly the lives of everyone as a whole.

 

[Danger Mouse]

The underlying assumption is that if you can score As in school, then you're smart, analytical and generally hardworking academically. All these go to your overall attitude - lazy underachiever or hardworking genius. Sure, there are self-made millionaires out there who weren't academically good, but such is the general assumption.

Therefore, it's quite natural for corporations and professional firms look for candidates with good grades to be entrusted with the future of their businesses.

Colleges, too, would be quite right to admit those who scored well in school. The basic assumption to them is that if you can't do well in school, what guarantees are there that you won't drop out of college? One seat given to a student is a seat deprived of another so they want to make sure that it is given to the better. Better kids in their colleges means better chances of graduating means better publicity for them.

 

[Deep Thinkin'!]

hush.

the adults are speaking.

Then what are you doing in here? I didn't think pedophiles counted.

One big issue I hear a lot of complaints about are classes that high school students are required to take when their future careers will have nothing to do with those designed classes.

I understand that this is the reason why you go to an art school, technological, and so on, but several of these require a high payment or a scholarship. Those people who aren't as talented as others are still useful.

Afterall, aren't we the freaking future? (Yes, I said that corny line)

I know I'm going slightly off the original topic, but it's an imporant issue.

 

[blind_fury]

It's people. Soylent Green is made out of people..

and we're all just batteries for the matrix!!

 

[The Kid]

There are ways to get paid. Prostitution, drugs, stuff that Anna Nichole and Paris Hilton kind of stuff. How about all the girls out there just marry rich old guys? So I'm not totally sold on the notion schools about bigger better income though that's really what sells it, isn't it. I'd say if you have excellent skills regardless of school you'll be making big bucks for them... and It really should be about making us all better people. Period.

My opinion of school?

It's garbage.

I'm biased but I've also seen a teacher be kicked down a flight of stairs, people beating the hell out of each other, teasing, bullying, rampant injustice. I definitely don't have rose colored glasses on when seeing school for what it is. Because I have the bruises and deep emotinal scars to remind me about it. it's about pain. I guess my parents wanted me to suffer?

None of you mention what Grades do. They boost self esteem. Beyond that I think they're garbage because they don't get you girls.

 

[blind_fury]

Considering a great deal of the populous here is high school students, this perhaps strikes even greater relevance with them since grade in High School are even more useless. I finished my first year of college and I'm left staring at the grading system, wondering what's the point? Like seriously, there's a culture devoted to the grading of one's intelligence, hell we have things like the bell-curve, where we have it down to a science as to what your potential will be according to race. We have IQ tests and various other things, and then we have grades. And I'm left baffled... Because what in god's name does a GPA have to do with the real-world? Bah, I've always hated the rat-race known as school, it just seems all relatively pointless in the greater scheme of things.

The sad thing is that these social climbers lack foresight. They all want to be rich and retired by 40. But then they realize the drive for success had more to do with the mating game than self-fulfillment. They find a mate which naturally and instinctively results in offspring. Then they work so they can give their kids "everything". These kids become trust fund babies and have no motivation to do anything because they have more money than they can possibly spend and they see all these rats in maze chasing the cheese/lifestyle they attained without lifting a finger. It must be hilarious to watch.

These trust fund babies are the end result and legacy of these social climbers who "made it" but they're typically useless to society. What's the point?

 

[ScottyBBadd]

Considering a great deal of the populous here is high school students, this perhaps strikes even greater relevance with them since grade in High School are even more useless. I finished my first year of college and I'm left staring at the grading system, wondering what's the point? Like seriously, there's a culture devoted to the grading of one's intelligence, hell we have things like the bell-curve, where we have it down to a science as to what your potential will be according to race. We have IQ tests and various other things, and then we have grades. And I'm left baffled... Because what in god's name does a GPA have to do with the real-world? Bah, I've always hated the rat-race known as school, it just seems all relatively pointless in the greater scheme of things.

There is really no point to grades. Grades do not indicate what someone has learned, or their ability to apply what was taught.

 

[Sloth7d]

Its an excuse for your parents to hit you if your dumb.