Yesterday I read a Times article about law schools artificially boosting students’ grades to help them find employment in this tough economy. I knew grade inflation was bad, but I didn’t know it was that bad. The article also links to a website that tracks national trends in grade inflation. Across the board, the average GPA in public and private schools has been creeping up since the 1960s.

It’s nice to see that Columbia University, my alma mater, ranks at the low end of the inflation curve. On my transcript, Columbia College indicates the percentage of students in an academic course who received A-range grades. Many of my classes have percentages exceeding 90%. So what the hell do grades mean if one student who puts in a lot of effort ends up earning the same grade as someone who didn’t?