Professor Criticizes Emphasis on Grades in College

A journalism professor who has taught at some of the nations leading universities says in a new book that college students worry so much about grades that it interferes with how much they learn.

(PRWEB) November 20, 2002 - A journalism professor who has taught at some of the nations leading universities says in a new book that college students worry so much about grades that it interferes with how much they learn.

Richard Labunski of the University of Kentucky argues in The Educated Student: Getting the Most Out of Your College Years that the emphasis on grades means that many students only want to study what will be on the exams. Labunski urges students to approach college with the goal of making the benefits of an undergraduate education last beyond graduation.

Labunski has more than 20 years of experience in a university classroom. He has taught at the University of California, Penn State University and University of Washington. He has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California and a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.

"Students are under so much stress about grades," Labunski said, "that they sometimes forget that grades are supposed to reflect what they learn and are not the goal of a college education. If parents measure academic success by grades alone, they add to that stress."

Labunski says with grade inflation, almost everyone gets an "A" or "B" in a class. Thus you cant tell how much a student is learning based on the grade.

He recognizes that to get admitted to a graduate or professional school, and to get an interview with some employers, grades are important. But he adds, "I am often amazed at the number of students who only want to learn what will be on exams so they can get a good grade. Instead, students should focus on learning what will help their career and enrich their lives."

The Educated Student emphasizes the academic side of college life. Labunski provides detailed advice on choosing courses, selecting a major, preparing for exams, writing research papers, and developing a good relationship with professors. The books broader message is that every class and the college experience overall should help students to develop the skills they will need later on.

BOOK DETAILS:
Paperback,$14.95,256 pages,(ISBN: 0-9677498-8-3)

Richard Labunski is a journalism professor at the University of Kentucky and has more than 20 years of experience in a university classroom. He has taught at the University of California, Penn State University and University of Washington. He has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California and a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. He is the author of three previous books including The Second Constitutional Convention.

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AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS:
Professor Labunski is available for interviews. You can reach him at the University of Kentucky at (859) 257-5719 or by e-mail at labunsk@uky.edu.