I read an alarming article last week. It wasn’t surprising to me, as I had been aware of the facts therein for some time, but it is always jarring to see it in print. For some reason, though, many people are not affected by those empirical findings. In such cases, it is often best to tell a story. Some are unmoved by facts and logic, which makes them susceptible to completely ignoring truth that stares them in the face. So, instead of just commenting on the article I read and restating its information, I’m going to tell you a brief story. Here goes...
Imagine you are in a college classroom, a lecture hall that holds exactly 100 students. From the front of the room the professor looks out at you and your classmates and announces a final project. This project is so important, she says, that the entire semester’s success for each student is based on this one big assignment.
You shift in your seat nervously. You realize this project, whatever it is, could make or break your GPA. The professor announces the class will undertake a massive group project, a 40-page research paper, to be completed collectively by the entire class. And this project, with all 100 students’ names on it, will be given one grade that the whole class will share. If the class turns in an A paper, everyone in class gets an A. If the paper is a B, the class gets a B, and so on.
You have mixed feelings about this assignment. After all, though the project is large, splitting it up among 100 people will reduce the total workload. And there are students smarter than you, so it will be nice to have their help. However, you are a little uncomfortable relying on others who aren’t so smart for your success. What if they don’t pull their weight and the whole class suffers?
Then the professor offers an additional requirement to the project. She points at one of your classmates, Maria, who sits at the end of your row and keeps to herself. You don’t know much about her, except that she is widely regarded as the best student in class. She has gotten perfect scores on every other assignment. You wonder if she was born with an off-the-chart IQ or has parents who are neurosurgeons or rocket scientists and gave her the best resources and private tutors as a kid. What you don’t know, though, is that your assumptions are not likely true. In fact, there is an 80-90% chance that Maria is just like you—that she has an average IQ, was born to average parents, and grew up in a household with an average income. In fact, it’s also very likely that she simply studies harder and for more hours than anyone in the class. It’s also likely that in her free time, what little she has when she isn’t studying, she volunteers in the academic center where she tutors other students who are struggling in their classes. Yes, Maria is very smart. But it’s taken her a lot of work to get that way.
The professor asks Maria to stand up. She obliges and wonders what she is being singled out for. The professor announces to the class that Maria will be responsible for writing 10 of the 40 pages by herself. The professor tells Maria, who is stunned upon hearing this requirement, to have a seat and asks 19 other students to stand. These 19 have the next highest scores in the class. They will be responsible for collectively writing 25 pages. The professor then moves on to the next 35 highest scoring students. They will be responsible, she tells them, for writing the remaining 5 pages of the 40-page assignment. The professor then tells the remaining 45 students still seated that they will not have to write any portion of the paper.
So, to recap. Maria must write 10 pages all by herself. Nineteen students will collaborate to write 25 pages. Thirty-five students will work together on 5 pages. And 45 students don’t have to write any pages. Once again, they will all receive the same grade for whatever project is produced.
And one more thing, anyone from the 55 students asked to do some of the writing who does not complete the requirement, Maria included, will not only fail the class but will be expelled from the university entirely.
Which group benefits most from this arrangement? Who would you want to be in this classroom? How do you think Maria feels, being punished simply for working hard and being smart? Is it acceptable that the last 45 students don’t have to do anything for their grade? Sure, they may not be as smart as Maria or some of the other students, but they are adults and in college; shouldn’t they contribute something?
This story may sound strange or unrealistic. But this is real life. It happens every day, and it involves real people. It’s easy to force the Marias of the world to do all the work. But if she sits near in you class, and you can see her face, and you can know the amount of effort she puts into her studies, it becomes a bit harder. You probably would not tell Maria these requirements to her face, since she would surely decline; however, it is strangely more palatable if the teacher forces the work upon her.
Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done for Maria or the other 19 who are also good students. Even putting the project requirements to a vote won’t help. They are outnumbered. Since the professor believes in majority rule and granting breaks for those who aren’t great students, Maria and the others will always have to do all the homework. And a large portion of the class won’t have to do any. This is what we’ve decided is the best way to get everyone the grades they desire. This is our big project. Welcome to the American classroom.
Imagine you are in a college classroom, a lecture hall that holds exactly 100 students. From the front of the room the professor looks out at you and your classmates and announces a final project. This project is so important, she says, that the entire semester’s success for each student is based on this one big assignment.
You shift in your seat nervously. You realize this project, whatever it is, could make or break your GPA. The professor announces the class will undertake a massive group project, a 40-page research paper, to be completed collectively by the entire class. And this project, with all 100 students’ names on it, will be given one grade that the whole class will share. If the class turns in an A paper, everyone in class gets an A. If the paper is a B, the class gets a B, and so on.
You have mixed feelings about this assignment. After all, though the project is large, splitting it up among 100 people will reduce the total workload. And there are students smarter than you, so it will be nice to have their help. However, you are a little uncomfortable relying on others who aren’t so smart for your success. What if they don’t pull their weight and the whole class suffers?
Then the professor offers an additional requirement to the project. She points at one of your classmates, Maria, who sits at the end of your row and keeps to herself. You don’t know much about her, except that she is widely regarded as the best student in class. She has gotten perfect scores on every other assignment. You wonder if she was born with an off-the-chart IQ or has parents who are neurosurgeons or rocket scientists and gave her the best resources and private tutors as a kid. What you don’t know, though, is that your assumptions are not likely true. In fact, there is an 80-90% chance that Maria is just like you—that she has an average IQ, was born to average parents, and grew up in a household with an average income. In fact, it’s also very likely that she simply studies harder and for more hours than anyone in the class. It’s also likely that in her free time, what little she has when she isn’t studying, she volunteers in the academic center where she tutors other students who are struggling in their classes. Yes, Maria is very smart. But it’s taken her a lot of work to get that way.
The professor asks Maria to stand up. She obliges and wonders what she is being singled out for. The professor announces to the class that Maria will be responsible for writing 10 of the 40 pages by herself. The professor tells Maria, who is stunned upon hearing this requirement, to have a seat and asks 19 other students to stand. These 19 have the next highest scores in the class. They will be responsible for collectively writing 25 pages. The professor then moves on to the next 35 highest scoring students. They will be responsible, she tells them, for writing the remaining 5 pages of the 40-page assignment. The professor then tells the remaining 45 students still seated that they will not have to write any portion of the paper.
So, to recap. Maria must write 10 pages all by herself. Nineteen students will collaborate to write 25 pages. Thirty-five students will work together on 5 pages. And 45 students don’t have to write any pages. Once again, they will all receive the same grade for whatever project is produced.
And one more thing, anyone from the 55 students asked to do some of the writing who does not complete the requirement, Maria included, will not only fail the class but will be expelled from the university entirely.
Which group benefits most from this arrangement? Who would you want to be in this classroom? How do you think Maria feels, being punished simply for working hard and being smart? Is it acceptable that the last 45 students don’t have to do anything for their grade? Sure, they may not be as smart as Maria or some of the other students, but they are adults and in college; shouldn’t they contribute something?
This story may sound strange or unrealistic. But this is real life. It happens every day, and it involves real people. It’s easy to force the Marias of the world to do all the work. But if she sits near in you class, and you can see her face, and you can know the amount of effort she puts into her studies, it becomes a bit harder. You probably would not tell Maria these requirements to her face, since she would surely decline; however, it is strangely more palatable if the teacher forces the work upon her.
Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done for Maria or the other 19 who are also good students. Even putting the project requirements to a vote won’t help. They are outnumbered. Since the professor believes in majority rule and granting breaks for those who aren’t great students, Maria and the others will always have to do all the homework. And a large portion of the class won’t have to do any. This is what we’ve decided is the best way to get everyone the grades they desire. This is our big project. Welcome to the American classroom.