Who Needs Finals

Posted by Nathanael Szobody on

So why am I studying for finals? Theoretically a test, and especially a final, should be simply a reiteration of what has been taught in class or read in the text book. It is simply a way to determine if a student is progressing academically at a satisfactory rate.

In this case, there should never be cumulative finals. A course grade should be an assesment of the cumulative participation and production of a student throughout the semester.

Whereas in reality a final only shows a students ability to retain information studied the day before in frantic effort to grasp those essential bits of information for the test.

Maybe I should ditch college and get a real education.

Nathanael Szobody

https://paradoxicalmusings.com/author/admin/

Husband, father, and working for Christ's kingdom in Chad.

Comments ( 7 )

  1. Emilie
    SO TRUE. But, pray tell, where would you get a "real" education? In the work force? The jobs available to you would be drastically limited. One more point and then I'm done: if your statement were the honest truth in schools, then quite possible, the grade on the final would reflect on the teacher's ability to teach rather than the student. Because human beings are designed to learn. And so, if I fail all my finals, it's not much of a penalty to me, because it really just proves that the teacher doesn't teach well. Hmm... who might I be talking about...?
  2. Anne
    I find that cramming has no point, usually. My theory is "If I don't know it by now, I'm not going to know it."
  3. Sarah
    I agree! Let's ALL quit school! Of course... I only have 2 finals, and one is already done.... so nevermind about that. I just won't study.
  4. Nathanael
    amazing; i post my least thoughtful entry yet and get three responses the same day.

    i like your approach though anne; i've often said the same.

    the entry wasn't meant to take any responsability of poor performance off the shoulders of the student either. we have a curve to take into account a professor's shortcomings.

    and i hate to break it to you all, but a 'real' education would be far more difficult, requiring much more self discipline then in the spoon fed system that we enjoy.
  5. jz
    I agree. Entirely. In fact, as of this moment I vow to never again take a college exam. I quit. There.
  6. Bekka
    although i agree completely with the sentiment of finals being pointless and stupid, unfortunately, in order to progress through this thing we call a college education, we must do them. it's a stupid means to far-off end, in a related note, i will not be sad to bid finals adieu forever come december. they're a waste of time. can't they tell by papers, quizes, and assorted other tests taken throughout the year how much material we have managed to absorb over the course of the semester? most of my classes don't even cover topics that apply to any other classes, so it's only to fill credit requirements, not to prepare me for further studies anyway...
  7. Nathanael
    you said it!

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