Bravo to The Tennessean for covering news about the HOPE Scholarship that broke a week ago.  Make sure you open up your copy of this fine paper on Monday, February 12, to read a detailed analysis of the Superbowl!

The paper reports that only 25% of the first group of students to receive the scholarship will graduate next year still receiving the money.   One proposed change to the scholarship is to lower the standards so that more students are able to retain the money.  Yes, let’s continue to fund students who have proven that they are not prepared to get average grades in college.  Sounds like a fantastic investment to me!  Let us proclaim, “Silly us for holding you to a reasonable level of expectation.  We’ll lower the bar to a point at which you feel comfortable.  Please let us continue to coddle you as we did throughout your high school years.”

Getting a 3.0 GPA in high school does not indicate likely success in college.  With grade inflation and lower standards, a 3.0 should be considered average at best.  Instead of finding a way to fund even more students who are destined never to graduate, why don’t we refocus our efforts on improving high schools that are forcing students to master important math, writing, geography, history, etc. skills?  And, let’s crack down on the absurd level of grade inflation.  An “A” in a course should really mean that a student displayed mastery of the content, not just that he completed some crossword puzzles for extra credit or quickly copied his buddy’s homework every morning.

The overall state of higher education is depressing.  Major state universities are accepting students whose GPA barely cracks the Mendoza line just to keep up enrollment numbers (I’m talking to you, MTSU).  The level of coursework has diminished in its expectation for critical thinking, writing and individual accountability.   And, too many students who have no real interest in learning are taking up space and oxygen in the classrooms.  The value of the piece of paper coming from most colleges and universities has greatly diminished.