Should college instructors verify that the students learn or should they grant passing grades?

Question

If it is such a class as general or fundamental chemistry, algebra, etc.,how strict should the grading be?

Answer 1

Professors do not GIVE grades, students EARN grades.

In order for a class to be both academically sound and fair, certain standards must be met. For example, there must be a syllabus that delineates student responsibilities, and provides a breakdown of the grading system. Students grades are earned according to the degree to which these specified responsibilities are met.

A class like general chemistry or algebra must have certain expectations of students, like demonstrated mastery of specific information and techniques, or the ability to distinguish when to deploy specific information (such as which formula to use in order to solve a problem). The degree to which students are able to demonstrate mastery of this information, these techniques, or these abilities determines what grade they earn.

It is not a professor's job to pass students. It is a professor's job to show students how to meet the expectations of the class, and then to measure the degree to which each student met these expectations.

Answer 2

Its not that the grading should be strict or not, its whether or not the student is able to meet the basic requirements of the course.

A good professor will let the students know what the basic requirements of the course are in the beginning, and if not, then at the college level it is the student's responsibility to determine what those requirements are by meeting with the professor or emailing questions. It is also the student's responsibility to meet or exceed those course requirements not the professor's to change grading based on student performance.

Answer 3

I find the grading should be on what the student's learned throughout their class. If I were an employer, I wouldn't want somebody who got a B+ because their professor decided to give it to them. I'd rather have someone who got a B+ who deserved it.

That's not to say a professor can't be lenient on tests for little errors that the student had.