A letter from a reader about Grade deflation, Army-style
During World War II I learned navigation from Pan American Airways, which flew from Dinner Key, Florida, and was under contract with the Air Corps. Pan Am would not allow anyone to have a passing grade as a navigator with an average below 80. The Army, on the other hand was not allowed to flunk anyone, unless his average was below 70 percent. Easy: A Pan Am numerical grade of 80 was made equal to an Army grade of 70. The ratio of Army to Pan Am is then 70/80, or 0.875. Thus, the same Pan Am 80 X .875 = 70. If the same ratio were used it would be impossible to get an Army A, since even 100 on a Pan Am test would result in an Army score below 90 (100 X 0.875 = 87.5). Our whole class would get no A grades. We worked our butts off for the Pan Am 80, and let someone else figure our Army score and the percentage of A’s.
WILLIAM A. KELLY ’49
Haworth, N.J.
Respond to
this letter
Send a letter to PAW
Go back to our online Letter Box Table of Contents
