<p>TatinG: Well, eliminating homework isn’t really the issue, don’t you think. If a student can’t do homework, they certainly can’t study for a test. It is somewhat strange that our schools are so afraid of ‘discrimination’ that we appeal to the lowest common denominator, instead of challenging all of our students to aim high.</p>
<p>Again, I still think that tests are not the real way to gauge mastery of a subject. Mastery comes from doing, teaching, practicing, not from memorization. When I want to really learn something, I prepare to teach it. </p>
<p>I do realize that students need to be prepared for college, but maybe that isn’t how college should do it either (focus on tests). I do remember one professor that based the entire grade on the final. Getting to know him a few years later, I do think it was a macho thing. </p>
<p>I think the classes where I learned the most were the ones with the written work (papers, essays, exercises) and the team activities.</p>