Tackling Grade Inflation

* Re “When a 4.0 Is Average, Educators Start Fretting,” July 13:

Kudos on addressing a largely overlooked but important issue facing schools!

As a college-bound student, I’ve suffered through my share of Advanced Placement classes and tests. While there are some benefits to AP courses, grade inflation and overemphasis on passing an exam (rather than studying and learning the subject matter) affect too many classes.

AP and honors courses were originally designed to allow students to work at a higher level. Instead, they have led to a new breed of student: the grade machine whose education, knowledge and interest in the subject matter are secondary to test scores and letter grades.

I spent the first two years of high school in regular classes and the last two in “advanced courses.” I wish I could say I received the same quality of instruction--but I did not. Students with any talent or ambition are increasingly forced to choose between the mediocre standard or the bloated AP/honors track, where less and less emphasis is placed on learning.

I applaud Tustin’s move toward change and encourage other school districts to do the same.

CHRISTOPHER PERRY

Fullerton