Georgia funds grade inflation hoax

It's nice to know that taxpayers in the state of Georgia are being forced to subsidize a study that pumps up the long-discredited grade inflation hoax.

There is certainly some grade inflation in America's schools - but almost all of it benefits student athletes who'll be kicked off the team if they get poor grades. That, however, isn't the kind of grade inflation that ever gets exposed.

At issue here is the made-up type of grade inflation. You know, the kind that supposedly inflates the grades of every student and "proves" they're not meeting the rigorous demands of today's corporate-backed education system.

The media has yelped about this alleged grade inflation for years - but it's a hoax. The fact is that there is no such general pattern of grade inflation in American schools. None.

The Georgia report claims that some high schools reward excellent grades to students who fail standardized tests in the same subjects. The implication by the state, the media, and "experts" is that schools are too easy.

High school easy???

Really???

Did the writers of this study even go to high school to find out?

I'm a guy who's written some computer programs that are at least passable and drawn several professional-quality biking maps. But when I was in high school, I rarely saw any grade above a 'D' - at least not in most of the 5 years I was in high school.

Maybe the schools aren't too easy - but the state-mandated standardized tests are too hard.

I know a lightning bolt is probably going to sear me alive because I said that - for standardized tests have become the national religion, and I just blasphemed it.

This state-sponsored worship of standardized testing is especially strong in Georgia: The standardized exam - called the End of Course Test - composes 15% of a student's grade.

And these tests are never considered wrong. Ever. The world is supposed to stop spinning for these oh-so-perfect tests.

Grade inflation is a hoax, but Georgians are having their tax dollars wasted to put out bullshit reports that fan this fraud. Unbelievable.

(Source: http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/02/08/eoct02081.html)