Kids are like water ... They will always flow down the path of least resistance. While a few buck this trend, most don't, so it's imperative to put incentives into the course like grades due participation, etc. Being smart means little these days to folks because we all walk around with the entire world of knowledge in our pockets. Our cell phones. And as you know, there are plenty of so called education experts willing to promote this world view. Memorizing is worthless, homework is pointless, etc. Nope, I agree with you that grades are really not what learning is about (I'm a teacher too) but past maybe fourth grade, kids start to fully grasp this education system and its gamesmanship.