Grades really cover up failure to teach. A bad instructor can go through an entire quarter leaving absolutely nothing memorable in the minds of his class, curve out the scores on an irrelevant test, and leave the impression that some have learned and some have not. But if the grades are removed the class is forced to wonder each day what it’s really learning. The questions, What’s being taught? What’s the goal? How do the lectures and assignments accomplish the goal? become ominous. The removal of grades exposes a huge and frightening vacuum. Robert M. Pirsig
About This Quote

This quote is about how grades cover up failure and does not allow for people to learn. Without grades or scores there is no way to compare or measure someone's abilities. This quote makes it very hard to compare an instructor's ability. The instructor can manipulate the scores and grades because he doesn't have to worry about them affecting his job.

Source: Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

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