College and University Life

[Blaise (imported)]

I am watching the following television program. Suddenly, concerns I had long ago from 1963-1967 flow back into immediate experience.

Declining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk Thursday, June 23, 8:00pm CHANNEL 27 (LPB/LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING) “Something is seriously wrong” on college campuses in the U.S., asserts education journalist John Merrow, who outlines problems in higher education as he visits the Universities of Arizona and Western Kentucky, Amherst (Mass.) College. CC, Stereo, Letterboxed TVG

[A-1 (imported)]

“Something is seriously wrong” on college campuses in the U.S., asserts education journalist John Merrow, who outlines problems in higher education as he visits the Universities of Arizona and Western Kentucky, Amherst (Mass.) College. CC, Stereo, Letterboxed TVG

The only thing wrong with education is that it has not had a good track record of accountability and how to defend itself against its detractors.

The news media has a lot of nerve, after what they have been up to lately.

A-1

[Bagoas (imported)]

I was an assistant professor at a small state university for 25 years, and I can tell you that there is indeed something wrong with higher education. One of the most important factors leading to a deterioration in quality of education and a reduction in standards of student performance is student evaluation of faculty. Evaluation of the faculty has become a popularity contest conducted by students who have never taught a class in their lives and who know nothing of the subject except what they have been taught by the person being evaluated. I acquired tenure and the rank of assistant professor in the same year. After that, I was not bucking for promotion and I could not be denied tenure. Therefore, I could do pretty much what I damned pleased. I did not have to curry favor with the students. Few, indeed, of my colleagues were in this felicitous situation. I based my students' grades on how much of the material in the course they had mastered, not on their standing relative to the other students. One day, when we were turning in our grade sheets at the end of the semester, I was standing behind a much shorter colleague in the Sociology Department and I could see his grade sheets over his shoulder. All of the grades were A's and B's. I hadn't realized until then that all of the best students in the school were in Sociology. I still don't. He was untenured and seeking promotion. Need I say more ? What do you think that this sort of intimidation of the faculty does to the quality of education ?

[Blaise (imported)]

I was an assistant professor at a small state university for 25 years, and I can tell you that there is indeed something wrong with higher education. One of the most important factors leading to a deterioration in quality of education and a reduction in standards of student performance is student evaluation of faculty. Evaluation of the faculty has become a popularity contest conducted by students who have never taught a class in their lives and who know nothing of the subject except what they have been taught by the person being evaluated. I acquired tenure and the rank of assistant professor in the same year. After that, I was not bucking for promotion and I could not be denied tenure. Therefore, I could do pretty much what I damned pleased. I did not have to curry favor with the students. Few, indeed, of my colleagues were in this felicitous situation. I based my students' grades on how much of the material in the course they had mastered, not on their standing relative to the other students. One day, when we were turning in our grade sheets at the end of the semester, I was standing behind a much shorter colleague in the Sociology Department and I could see his grade sheets over his shoulder. All of the grades were A's and B's. I hadn't realized until then that all of the best students in the school were in Sociology. I still don't. He was untenured and seeking promotion. Need I say more ? What do you think that this sort of intimidation of the faculty does to the quality of education ?

My GPA would have been high had I not taken Greek, German, and French (in futile efforts to learn them) or a history of philosophy series (in my major, of course). Those along with mathematics courses were among my favorite courses at university.

The documentary explored grade inflation. I believe it is a problem.

[Blaise (imported)]

The only thing wrong with education is that it has not had a good track record of accountability and how to defend itself against its detractors.

The news media has a lot of nerve, after what they have been up to lately.

A-1

Too many part-time instructors teach core courses. We do not always properly fund community colleges. We do not pay many university professors well. We do not demand enough from students. We stress college sports over core concerns of colleges and universities. We may convert too many colleges to universities.

[A-1 (imported)]

Well,

Maybe I only have to teach the "creme de la creme" but provided the bean pushers don't push them out of their chosen professions they do a 'bang up' job.

Guess what I teach/taught...

You know, education is not nearly so bad as it is being painted...it's the changing of our culture... you know, can't we all just get along?

PROFESSORS OF SCIENCE!

Do you remember when the (AAAS) American Association for the Advancement of Science with the support of the (NSF) National Science Foundation developed THE science curriculum for America in the 1960's.

In fact, the AAAS is still in the curriculum (http://www.project2061.org/research/curriculum.htm) writing business. :shakemitk

Science professors have taught AAAS curriculi for 40 years. Where are we now, you tell me again, I am not sure that I understand the previous posts...

You must all believe all of this Conservative document (http://www.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html)from those 'HEADY' Reagan years.

You know, for a bunch of LIBERAL fucks you sure as HELL sound like John Ashcroft's (http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/usa/john-ashcroft/) fan club.

:shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk

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[Blaise (imported)]

Now I know what happened to education in the United States! All of you belong to the Eunuch Archive!

Recently, I met a young man (I supervise his probation)who majors in constuction mangagement at Louisiana State University. He has to take physics, calculus, materials science, and other "difficult" work. He is taking one elective this term--sports marketing.



I have noticed that psychology majors do take difficult (for me) courses in mathematics. That impressed me.

[A-1 (imported)]

Ashcroft's office confirms that U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft did indeed say, "Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him. Christianity is a faith in which God sends his son to die for you."

Well, Ashcroft said it, I didn't.

:shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk :shakemitk

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[Riverwind (imported)]

I think I know were he got it too,

G. Patton WWII

I want that basterd to die for his country,

I dont want our army to die for ours.

or there abouts.

River

[Blaise (imported)]

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=7591

This list amuses me. Some of the books would be on my own worst lists. A few of these were important to me--well at least the Darwin works.