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© OPINION -THE GRADE INFLATION PROBLEM Jul ry GRAHAM HOOKEY Column Waterloo Chronicle | Thursday, The pandemic took yet schools that is resulting in students with 95-plus aver- ages not getting into pro- grams of their choice. jure, the pandemic may have put the cherry on the top of this issue, but it's one that has been going on for some time. Academic ac- countability has been a po- litical football since pro- vincial examinations for graduating students were eliminated in the late 1960s. a former educator, I often spoke to students about the two components of academic success. The first was that natural gifts. Some tient are more talented in mathe- matics and sciences, some are more talented in some more talented in the arts and even though they might im- plode when they got there requisite work. Faculties of nginee! mous for large ‘eltare on and dropout rates in first year. When the objectivity of id ented i in hands-on practical ills. Historically, success in the school system, at least in terms of preparation for post-secondary education, favoured those with gifts in core academics — the read- ers, writers and mathema- ticians who did well on ex- aminations. But there is a second component that was often erlo joked by an emphasis on examination results, that component being work habits. Naturally talented students with terrible work habits could often cram for exams and qualify for top- flight university programs exams was eliminated, in a move de- signed to recognize that there is more than one way to evaluate effective Jearn- ing, the student success shifted wo othe more some form of objective cri- teria for comparing large pools of applicants. The for higher grades, broader ranges of © curricular activities in pressive resumés munity service — "T dont say this about many stu- dents" reference letters be- an. There is an illusion that this inflationary tendency created both a laziness and sense of entitlement in many students, though for some it may well have done so. But for students who and hard working, it treated an dividual teachers. nae pressure from Politicians, administrators and par. ents anxious to see all stu. dents succeed, this move- ment to teacher-driven evaluation led to both an inflationary grade tenden- cy and a wide variation in the criteria used to deter- mine student success. University recruiters were left scratching their heads in trying to find so high that stress ‘and ‘pura enough, then I'd better get 97 per cent and be student council president and be on the varsity basketball team and volunteer at a youth (work two jobs d... and... I'm not going to offer a blanket solution to this problem. It is complex and TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA es some soul search: ing by politicians, admini: trator teachers and par. a it does appeal to me that, unless th igh schools offer some form of objective evaluation of in- dividual students’ abilities and work habits, then post- secondary institutions are going to have to design some of their own. We can- not keep asking young peo- ple to reach some illusory standard that varies and changes on political or per- sonal whims. If post-secondary pro- grams are going to be com- petitive in terms of admis- sions, then someone needs to develop a level playing field on which such compe- tition can be judged. Other- wise, we are simply setting up both good students and weaker students for frus- tration and failure. Graham Hookey is the reached at ghookey@ya- hoo.com. This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metrolant ia Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants wri Council Suite 20), to Nanae St, ronto, Phone: A16- 3A! 981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca nne | Aocna “Saat | Canada editorial@waterloochronicle.ca facebook. .com/waterloochronicle @wichronicl WHO WE ARE Publisher and r Vice President, Editorial Lee Ann Waterman Metroland Editor-in-Chief Paul Berton Regional General Manager Nelson Parreira THE FIGHT 10 PRESERVE INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND HISTORY MIKE (O'DAH ZIIBING/HEART OF THE RIVER) ASHKEWE Column We live in an unprece- dented age of discovery, ving numerous technolo- ae and tools meant to save history readily available. However, what if parts of our past were in danger of being lost. forever? Indigenous culture and language are being threatened right now. indigenous language is g beautiful and complex and 3 2 widely varied from coast to coast and tribe to tribe. The number of people who can speak and pass down the § language to others is rapid- Ed ly shrinking. The histories and teachings that have en- lured millennia, coloniza- tion and more are in decline in some ways but some are making an effort to ensure its survival. An individual in Nuna- and even Facebook to tran- scribe more than 11,000 words from Inuktitut and Inuinnagtun. Efforts like this are important to do be- cause the availability of tools and tech can be limit- ed in certain are ‘Telecommunications technology is helping con- nect people from the most remote areas of Canada to those who want to learn, and those who will help pre- serve te alee edge. ents, sucha as ys the ‘Sekachewsn government, are investing money to make sure things are not lost to time. The province is it $50,000 ually to fund scholarships for people who want to learn Indigenous languages at the First Na- tions University of Canada. Itis important that those in power take the time and effort to recognize their ability to help preserve out secondary scl and into college and onan inet with many schools hav- Indigenous- specific stu- dent services, such as Uni- versity of Guelph and many hers. portant. There are pro- grams locally that also work to spread the wealth of Indigenous language and culture, such as at Conesto- ga College. ne? recent years, and as sation has turned “towards Truth and Reconciliation, students across Canada have taken Indigenous studies courses. Firekeepers, Knowledge Keepers and elders enter classrooms and impart what they can to the new generation. Students in On- tario can start learning about Indigenous history as early as the third grade. Ed- ucation continues = through. Locally, governments are making efforts at Indigenous relations, such as through the building of the Indige- nous gathering circle in Fergus. ing Indigenous spac- es allows communities to gather to share ceremony and information, but also create deeper connections to the land and each other. Medicines will be grown and the site is accessible, which will allow more peo- ple to gather and enjoy the land provided. The City of Guelph also has an Indige- fire site for peo- plet togather and share with each other and create spac- es for people to learn. We stand at a time when ba is 8 possible ne recaim ex- ledge and language if we mat actively pursue it in earnest. Thers have to be people, systems, and the will to make sure that things are preserved for the next generation to learn from. We can help fund our local Indigenous friendship centres, Indige- nous initiatives from pro- cial and federal govern- ments, and ask that our ed- ucational institutions con- tinue to involve Indigenous voices and activities. As we celebrated indlge- nous History Month in in June, we absolutely need to do our best to ac- owledge that history, preserve it, and make sure that future Canadians have the opportunity to learn it from those who live it every day. Mike "O'dah ziibing/ Heart Of the river" Ash- tivist in the city of Guelph. sentatives Jan Bodanka, Matt Miller, Lisa ae imphreys, Cassandra Del Managin g Editor Robyn Wilkinson ‘Online Editor Loraine Centeno Ned Bekavac Reporter ap Jackson Director vices Paul Gos tin iterloo Chronic! 219 Labrador Dr. suite He Waterloo, On., N2K 4M8 Phone: 519-886-2830. Web: www.waterloochronicle.ca rs to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. 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