The Meaning of Merit

Abstract

• Higher education has defined merit largely in terms of speed. It rewards not those who learn the most or the best, but those who report their learning back by the deadline, whether that’s the time limit for the test or the end of the semester. • Resilient learning takes time. More time spent in study results in longer retention, and elapsed time between reinforcements stabilizes learning. The emphasis on speed leads to less retention and less substantive performance. And because different students learn at different rates, inflexible time limits waste time for some while imposing failure on others. • Extended time for learning and alternatives to the conventional term could increase the success rates of many students, especially those most disadvantaged by conventional practices. John Tagg is Professor Emeritus of English at Palomar College in San Marcos, California. He has written and lectured widely on higher education reform. His most recent book is The Instruction Myth: Why Higher Education Is Hard to Change, and How to Change It (2019).