How Grades Degrade

I looked up at the beginning of class, surveyed the students sitting before me, and glimpsed about five or six faces I hadn’t seen in weeks. I immediately knew why they were there.

In the previous few classes, I had given credit to students who attended class. The students who came to class did not have to do the assignment accompanying the lecture. Instead, they gained credit by participating in the class activity. I figured that would change the attendance, and it did. This is no different than me suggesting supplemental reading that could further their understanding and knowing no one is going…