A Counterintuitive Study on Grade Inflation

When a student earns a diploma, what exactly have they earned? Is it proof of real, transferable, labor-market-ready skills? Or is it a signal, a flag planted in the employer’s field of view that says this person showed up, tried hard, and turned things in on time? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Read Online Apr 7, 2026

A Counterintuitive Study on Grade Inflation By Julia R. Cartwright When a student earns a diploma, what exactly have they earned? Is it proof of real, transferable, labor-market-ready skills? Or is it a signal, a flag planted in the employer’s field of view that says this person showed up, tried hard, and turned things in on time? Share           Read more Do you have feedback for our coverage? Tell us what you think by replying to this email. In light of the ongoing war with Iran and Easter, we're running a special subscription offer so more people can access our reporting at a deeply discounted rate. Ways to keep yourself informed are abundant but how much do you trust them? Besides the longstanding bias in the media landscape, the surge of AI has further blurred the line between creativity and fabrication. What’s real, what’s artificial? What’s insightful, what’s merely ostensible? The world demands authenticity and integrity more than ever. We heard that call. Guided by our founding principles of truth and tradition, The Epoch Times remains steadfast in our pursuit in traditional journalism. Every single report you read is written by a human, striving always for accuracy and clarity. While consuming news and analysis, we invite you to scroll beyond the headlines and explore our stories on life, arts, culture, and history. Our feature coverage—cherished by many—offers a rare sanctuary in today’s tumultuous world: America’s Oldest Retreat for Healing; Bach’s Baby-Simple Prelude; Lewis and Tolkien on War and Hope in Hard Times... Each is a delightful read—uplifting your spirit beyond the daily hustle and bustle. Enjoy a full Epoch Times subscription for 6 months for just $1. Limited-time only. Subscribe Now Home & Gardening Grow Your Own Fresh Cut Flowers Year-Round: A Bouquet-a-Day Guide for Home Gardeners Read the article → Food A Gluten-Free Pick-Me-Up Cake Read the article → Future Planning 7 Frugal Habits to Keep Even When You’re Rich Read the article → SPONSORED BY GAN JING WORLD [GJW SUBSCRIBER] Hilarious Scene of a Turkey Threatening an Officer: "He's Got Beef With Me!" Learn more → EPOCH BUY We Put “Real-Time” Translation Devices to the Test, Only One Worked Without a Hitch Read the article → 📚 Book Review: “Boston, 1776,” a raucous colonial tour: J.D. Dickey’s new book does an extraordinary job of recreating the long-lost Boston that thrived in the years leading up to the war’s beginning. 🎨 Fine Arts: “Raphael: Sublime Poetry,” an epic exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art: This is the first major Raphael exhibition to ever be staged in the United States. 📽️ Rewind, Review, and Re-rate: A couch-scrolling marathon led to director Frank Hall Green’s 2014 feature “Wildlike.” It’s mostly flown under the radar since its original film festival run but is now available on streaming services, just waiting for people to hit play. High School Student Wins Rodeo Painting Championship—Artwork Fetches $525,000 at Auction: Joshua Washington carried his camera into a creaking country log cabin that smelled like a holdout from the Old West, or perhaps just a cowboy movie set. The Pasadena Memorial High School senior, from Houston, was stepping outside his comfort zone for art’s sake. Read more →

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