Big deal Quote by Douglas E. Richards
““had a test in school and I studied for an entire week, night and day. My friend spent the entire week playing video games and having fun at the beach. I ended up getting an A, and my friend got an F. So what if the teacher said, ‘it’s not fair that Bren got an A and his friend got an F. So we’re going to give you both C’s. Still passing, right? So it’s no big deal. Still plenty of cushion away from an F. The A earners shouldn’t be greedy.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: The Grading Game, 2018
Hard work yields high grades, while leisure leads to poor performance; fairness is questioned when outcomes are equalized.
In simple terms: Effort leads to success; cheating undermines merit.
Key Takeaway
Reward genuine effort, not arbitrary equality.
Themes
education
fairness
effort
motivation
ethics
Mood
reflective
concerned
thoughtful
Type
educational
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- study planning
- time management
- academic counseling
- policy review
- peer mentoring
Key Concepts
grade inflation
meritocracy
student behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- Is grade normalization fair to all students?
- How can incentives encourage both effort and well‑being?
A Different Perspective
Equalizing grades may demotivate high achievers and ignore individual growth.
