Lowering Expectations

Today over lunch I was talking with a friend who was telling me that the lowest score "acceptable" on a Master of Social Work test was 70%.

Isn't that like a "C."

Why only 70%? Doctors and lawyers surely have to have a "B" average or better? Would you want a doctor to work on you if all he could remember on the test was 70% of the material? (Does that omit the appendix and tonsils? No one seems to need those.)

What about the social workers who score only 70%. What quality of work are they capable of? Does this mean that society is willing to accept less as a whole?

Is "C" work really okay when it comes to people who your fix cars, teach your kids, tend to your pet's health? What about your business advisers? Your accountant, attorney, banker, marketing professionals?

Maybe this is why more and more consumers have chosen to pay more to get better service and are more choosy when the expected service is not received. So in reality, "C" work isn't acceptable to businesses and consumers.

Why is acceptable in the academic realm? Hmmm......