Vignette 7

Mrs. Vandecamp’s decision to not allow Dakota an 80% since there were already 6 grades above 80% affected Dakota very negatively. Not only did Dakota achieve higher than that in true marks, but she was also relying on her marks to receive the Rutherford scholarship. Since the curve did not allow her to be above 80 because there were already 6 above 80 Dakota did not receive the scholorship and was not considered to be an honors student, even though she had performed at an honors level. Personally I am not a fan of the Bell curve system and feel it is an awful way to assign grades. Mrs. Vandecamp based her grades on a strict and traditional curve and was not aiming for grades to best show student achievement. Rather, she was aiming to satisfy the bell curve at the expense of students. I have no idea why the bell curve has not been abolished, and also why it is used to grade students in the education program who are seeking to learn how to properly teach and grade. The bell curve stimulates competition and limits the aid that students will give to each other since everyone is competing against one another, rather than trying to do their best in relation to the required outcomes.