Grades

I don't think it really matters whether we use grades or this new alternative. I think they both do a good job of conveying a student's work ethic. Dissenters probably will attack this by saying "I'm a bad test taker." However, while most grades are generally weighted more to test, the student is provided with multiple opportunities to "level the playing field." If one were to consistently do their homework and do well on quizzes, then there is no doubt in my mind that that student would receive the mark they wanted. Others feel that the report card doesn't accurately reflect what kind of student that person is. There are students that could try as hard as they might but still fall short of their goals, so this is also a plausible solution to the "grades problem."

The following is a parody of the hassle some kids face with grades:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/1890/family-guy-the-communists

Politics & Science

Political science is a social science concerned with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior. It is often described as the study of politics defined as "who gets what, when and how".^[1] Political science has several subfields, including: political theory, public policy, national politics, international relations, and comparative politics.
Science and politics are two very different entities. Politics deals with social relations and government, whereas science is an attempt to gain knowledge of the physical world that surrounds us. The million dollar question though is whether science and politics can coalesce. In my opinion, the answer is yes. History has shown us that science and politics can work together. For example, large scale research programs- such as the cure for AIDS- require funding, and that funding is provided from the government.