Why is it top secret? ;) (grades)

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Summer quarter was my first semester in US school (college). I was really surprise that everybody hides their grades. Even students who get A!!!

Professors say that grades are between them and students.

One day, when guys form Japan had started to show their grades to each other, teacher told that they can't do it because it is a secret...

Math class I had with US citizens only, and every each other were hiding their grades.

I have to admit... it was silly for me. If you know grades other students you know who you can ask for help. In the other hand, I respect that because this is different country, different culture.

I know that maybe some lazy students can be ashamed of their grades. But if you work hard and something went wrong on a test their is nothing to be ashamed of.

Can you explain it to me? Maybe this is silly question but it really bothers me ;)

And it is not just me. I saw that even international student are really surprised with those rules :)

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Specializes in Med/Surge.
Summer quarter was my first semester in US school (college). I was really surprise that everybody hides their grades. Even students who get A!!!

Professors say that grades are between them and students.

One day, when guys form Japan had started to show their grades to each other, teacher told that they can't do it because it is a secret...

Math class I had with US citizens only, and every each other were hiding their grades.

I have to admit... it was silly for me. If you know grades other students you know who you can ask for help. In the other hand, I respect that because this is different country, different culture.

I know that maybe some lazy students can be ashamed of their grades. But if you work hard and something went wrong on a test their is nothing to be ashamed of.

Can you explain it to me? Maybe this is silly question but it really bothers me ;)

And it is not just me. I saw that even international student are really surprised with those rules :)

I've never heard of that. At my school the teacher keeps all grades confidential (meaning, the teacher shows you your grade only, not others) but if I feel like telling people my grade the teacher does not object.

I think some people might feel that sharing your grade might cause envy or other bad feelings. It's a little like telling people what you earn at your job. In many companies employees are not allowed to show coworkers what they earn. In companies where there is a union everyone knows what you earn unless you're a manager.

I see you're point though, about knowing who has the best grade so you can ask for help. There will be students who can't help or don't have time so it might also be unfair to put them on the spot.:)

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I've never heard of a it being discouraged or against the rules for one student to tell another student their grade.

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I generally don't ask what grade folks got, I ask them if they're happy with the grade they got. Everyone has different grade goals, so meeting their personal goals seems to be the indicator on how they did.

To the OP: I think the teacher was trying to let your group know that sharing grades sometimes creates bad feelings. As you pointed out, if someone doesn't do as well as they wanted to, then they might feel bad telling folks their grade, but if someone did really well, they might feel like they ae bragging and being prideful by saying what their grade is.....or even worse, that they'd make someone who didn't do as well, feel bad.

Basically, the only folks I share my grades with are folks I study with. We are all cheerleaders for each other...celebrating our good grades and creating a strategy to improve for our not as great grades.

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I have never ever heard of Professor here giving out grades for another student to anyone BUT that student.

As far as students sharing their grades with one another, I think it depends on the college, the class and the personality of the person in question. Some people have the personality that they feel the need to push their scores on everyone in hopes that someone will tell them their score (which they are hoping is lower) so they can feel better about themselves. Usually when confronted by these people, I just say something like "That is a good score, you must have studied I am not going to give up my score they will leave me alone.

IMHO, I studied for me and only for me. I did not study to try to make others in my class feel bad, or rub the fact that I did better than them in their faces. I studies and did the personal best I could on that exam on that day at that time. How I did on that exam is my business and the professors only...we are the only two that need to know hw I performed, and no one else.

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Professors won't reveal a student's grade to another student, but I have never heard of students being told not to tell each other what they scored. It's up to the individual student to tell or not. When I was getting 100s and 98s on Chemistry tests, I didn't reveal my grade unless a student asked me, "What grade did you get?". If they just asked me "How did you do?" I would say something like, "I did really well. I am happy." I did this because I didn't want to make anyone else feel bad that they didn't get a 98 or a 100. I don't like to brag; I think it makes everyone around you uncomfortable.

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Professors won't reveal a student's grade to another student, but I have never heard of students being told not to tell each other what they scored. It's up to the individual student to tell or not. When I was getting 100s and 98s on Chemistry tests, I didn't reveal my grade unless a student asked me, "What grade did you get?". If they just asked me "How did you do?" I would say something like, "I did really well. I am happy." I did this because I didn't want to make anyone else feel bad that they didn't get a 98 or a 100. I don't like to brag; I think it makes everyone around you uncomfortable.

That too. I usually do fairly well on a test so I often feel uncomfortable telling people who are stating their grade to me who are proud of their grade that I did better. I hate to bring someone else who studied as hard as they did and performed the best that they did that I did better. I usually try to defer the "What grade did you get?" with the "I did the best I could and I am satisfied with my score"

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Professors won't reveal a student's grade to another student, but I have never heard of students being told not to tell each other what they scored.

The reason that sometimes it seems a little bit bizarre for me comes from difference in education systems. In my country professors say in public (in the class) what grades we got on the test.

But...I have to admit I like the way it is here. Maybe, in some cases I would love to know who gets A's and B's. Why? If you have groupwork and it is a part of you grade then this is important what person will you choose to do your homework. Especially when you are 'A' student. Don't you agree?

Maybe it sounds selfish but we know that nursing programs are very competitive and grades are sooo important.

Anyway, thanks guys for posting and sharing with your opinion :)

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I wouldn't say there's a taboo against sharing, more that it's very much respected as an individual choice whether to share or not.

A teacher telling students not to compare their scores would make me suspicious that something (such as unfair grading practices) was being hidden.

About half my teachers post a list of grades, identified by code numbers, so that anyone can see how they are doing compared to the class as a whole without easily being able to identify individuals.

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I have only once had a teacher who shared the grades of the top 10 people on every test. That is just how she was, she felt those people needed to be pointed out as an example to the class. It made me feel really good, when I was one of those people, but I am sure many people hated it and I don't blame them.

I also study for me and only me. Well, I also study for my husband and my son because they are making big sacrifices and it is a way of showing my appreciation to them (getting good grades).

I will have to admit that in A&P II that I felt like I was in competition with 2 other friends of mine. All 3 of us shared our grades with eachother and I should add that we only knew eachother from that class. It didn't bother me and I am sure it didn't bother them either.

I don't find pleasure in knowing that other people have done worse than me, it makes me feel bad for them. I like to tutor people and help them out as much as possible. In the future I wouldn't mind teaching nursing. I love to help people understand concepts that I can actually wrap my head around.

I love to share my grades with people who ask but would never ask somebody that I wasn't really friends with or that I knew hadn't done well. That is just rude.

I also think it is rude when people who didn't do that well ask me my grade, even though they know exactly how I did and then they try to make me feel crappy because I did so well. I always explain to them that I don't work and that my son is in day care so I have no excuse but to get straight A's.

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I wouldn't like to be in a class where a teacher revealed other people's grades. It may be nice for the people who get the best grades but it's a demoralizer for the rest of the class.

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http://tiny.cc/EduRightsAct1974

But Prof's will tell you your rank within class.

:monkeydance::monkeydance:

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