Re: Why?

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

As I become older and more irascible, I am convinced that unless we
eventually 'hold the line' and require reasonable skills in reading,
writing, and math to earn the As and Bs in college courses, then the
products of our societies populated with 'so called' educated people will
start to seriously deteriorate.  If we really get to the point where most
college grads can't read or follow directions (assuming here that the
directions really are clearly written), then we have a real problem.
Passing this group along with high grades for inferior work 'because this is
what we get' is part of the problem, not the solution.

Rick

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Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
rtarara@saintmarys.edu

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Spagna Jr., George" <gspagna@RMC.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2001 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: Why?


> In asking why students cannot or do not or simply will not read and follow
> instructions, it is far to easy to blame the students, their parents, the
> high schools that graduated them, etc. etc. etc.  Except, for virtually
all
> of us, we have no choice but to work with the students we get.
>
> Is it not more productive to ask if there are effective strategies by
which
> we can teach them to read and follow instructions, and the importance of
> doing so?  Clear statement of expectations seems essential.  Maintaining
> standards, not by being punitive but by insisting that students work up to
> their potential, is also essential.  Any other useful suggestions from the
> collective wisdom of the list?
>
>
> *********************************************
> "Karaoke bars combine two of the nation's
> greatest evils: people who shouldn't drink
> with people who shouldn't sing."
>
>                              --Tom Dreesen
> *********************************************
> George Spagna
> Department of Physics
> Randolph-Macon College
> P.O. Box 5005
> Ashland, VA 23005-5505
> phone: (804) 752-7344
> FAX (804) 752-4724
> e-mail: gspagna@rmc.edu
> http://www.rmc.edu/~gspagna/