What Is Failing To Fail Essay

Within universities and colleges all across America GPAs are at an all time high, grade averages are rising, and academic performance is at it 's peek; which we all possess the power to remedy. Few argue that this is a result of a smarter and more driven generation, but in all actuality it 's the direct result of grade inflation. Grade inflation is most commonly known as being awarded a higher grade for an assignment that would have received a lower grade in the past. Grade inflation is having a serious impact upon individuals that are stepping out of universities with their prestigious transcript only to find that they are not truly competent for that which their professors have told them they have "excelled" at. The issue of grade inflation …show more content…
One of the major repercussions that Michael Zuckerman addresses in his article "Failing to Fail?" is that students are not prepared to handle failure within their lives. If students pass through their whole young lives without facing some form of failure, then they will not be able to learn how to combat and recover from adversity. Outlets to experience this within school include sports, competitions, and other personal goals. However, many that attend universities, such as Harvard, have only been involved in activities and organizations that are purely academic, therefore limiting their exposure to failure. This might not seem problematic, but Zuckerman points out how crucial failure is within an individual 's life when he states "Failure catches up with everyone; being able to navigate it is a crucial form of resilience" (3). For example, someone that has only been told their whole life that they are successful and good at everything might not be equipped to emotionally or mentally deal with the thought that they are inferior to another. If someone 's identity is so tied in to the idea that they have to be successful at everything, how will they be able to handle any form of