AUTHORITARIAN AND EGALITARIAN FORCES SHAPE T·HE SCHOOL WORK ETHIC

Abstract

This paper summarizes the development ofmodern education as a rational response to the demands of nationalism and industrialization in western societies. The problem of how to best encourage the "school work ethic" is reflected in conflicts between authoritarian and egalitarian ideals in the development of modern education. Tension is seen when one focuses on the use of grading scales. Early in the twentieth century, the very formal authoritarian 0-100 scale was modified to an ABCDE scale at the urging of liberal forces. That scales was modified to ABCDF as authoritarian forces emphasized the negative connotations of "failing."