Final answer:
Grading on a curve can create competition, which may be balanced by social norms that reward collective success. A shift to collective grading might remove incentives for individual achievement. Factors such as the hidden curriculum and social class influence the broader dynamics of education and achievement.
Step-by-step explanation:
When students are graded on a curve and each student's grade depends on their performance relative to their peers, it creates an environment of competition. This competitive grading can sometimes be offset by social norms that encourage teamwork and egalitarian principles rather than pure competition. If a teacher changes the grading system to a collective model, where all students receive the same grade based on the class average, this may remove the incentive for individual achievement and could lead to a decline in overall performance due to a lack of reward for hard work and achievement. This connects to broader themes in education and society, such as the hidden curriculum that which is learned but not overtly taught, like dealing with rules and bureaucracy and social class dynamics within educational opportunities.
Conflict theorists examine tracking and the disparities it creates, as advanced learners are separated from their lower achieving peers, often resulting in reinforced social inequalities. Furthermore, a shift in culture that emphasizes effort over the quality of the end product and the impact of student evaluations on teacher performance has also been cited as influencing grading practices and student achievement. These complexities highlight the myriad factors that educators must consider when devising a grading scheme that reflects both individual effort and collective achievement.