really?

We are currently living in an evolving world.  Just one glimpse around you notice society changing rapidly as compared to the past decades.  As well as the technological and physical transformations, we, as a people, are also morphing.  One considerable change is the way education is viewed.  A college degree, once a treasured honor to be given, is now on the same level as a high school diploma 30 years ago.  Instead of looking for a job after graduation, college grads are now applying to graduate school, which seems to be the only way to get an upper leg in this unreasonably competitive job market.  


I recently read an a article on thenewamerican.com which not only baffled me, it made me second guess what I was going to school for, and what the true meaning of my education was. "Grade Inflation in American Education" exposes the ugly truth of a flawed American education system.  Students are studying less, and earning higher grades the article reports.  It exposes some of the nations top law schools as giving their students higher marks to make them more eligible for a job when they graduate.  
Is giving students higher grades for less work really going to give them an advantage in life? Granted, it may help them get hired, but what happens when they half-ass their work once there, having the mindset that they will succeed doing satisfactory work?  I feel that these grade inflations are just another scar on a battered and skewed education system.  


The article goes on to talk about grade inflation in secondary school.  As a result of the "no child left behind" act, schools feel the need to up students scores in order to appear in better shape then in most times they really are.  The government blames teachers for the lack of success in students.  Granted, some teachers simply are not good at what they do, but the majority of the time it is the students who are unmotivated to reach high marks.  


It is disheartening as a college student to hear that (some not all) students are succeeding without putting in the time and effort that is needed for true academic excellence.  It makes me reconsider whether the degree that I wish to one day EARN will really be a mark of my academic success, or just another piece of paper that may or may not get me a job.