Student evaluations never let me down.

I was reading through my students' written evaluations from the spring semester and came across a gem from a student in my Intro Psych class. In response to the question that asked the students to list any suggestions they had for improving the class, this student responded, "I wish she wouldn't grade the class like we were psychology majors."

First, it's a psychology class. So, it's just amusing that, on the surface, it sounds like the student is asking me not to grade a psychology class as a psychology class.

Second, and more important, I don't grade the class like they're psychology majors because I don't even know what that means. I grade the class like they're college students taking a college class.

Beyond initial amusement and the amusement from sharing the story with others, it's disturbing to a professor to read a statement like that. Not only does this sadly reflect a general trend towards entitlement and cutting corners, but this reminds me that other majors at my school are grading their students differently. When the modal grade of certain majors at your school is an 'A,' there's a problem. Let me assure you that I teach at a school where most of the students do not have the ability or put in the effort to receive As, if an 'A' means what I want it to mean. Therefore, the grade inflation in these other majors must be outrageous. No wonder my students come into my class and do not want to be graded by my "psychology" standards. The I-actually-have-to-come-to-class-and-read-the-book-and-study-for-exams-and-take-care-in-the-work-I-submit is just so unfair.