The professor determined a class experiment on socialism would be the best lesson. All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade.
When grades from the first test were averaged, everyone received a B. The students who studied hard were upset. The students who studied only a little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little studied less; the students who studied hard wanted a free ride too, so they studied little.
The second test grade average was a D. By the third test, everyone received an F.
The scores never increased, but the bickering, blaming and name calling resulted in hurt feelings and animosity on both sides. No one was willing to study for the benefit of everyone else.
To their great surprise, the overall class average at the end of the semester was an F. The professor failed the entire class.
He explained to the students, ”When the reward is great, the motivation to work hard is great. When the government takes all of the reward away, no one will try harder or want to succeed.”
Is this story true? It very well could be …
