In article <83umq6$75s$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, a <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>In article <83ugke$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>says...
>>In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
>>Rich Ulrich <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>>On 22 Dec 1999 14:47:38 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (dennis roberts) wrote:
............
>>>Actually, I see where I might want to be more arbitrary that just
>>>changing a cutoff. How do you reward someone who is really trying
>>>hard, vs. someone who is smart but is blowing it off?
>>Why should you? The grade should be on knowledge and the ability
>>to use it, not on effort. If somebody is born with the knowledge,
>>he deserves the grade and credit. If someone works full time and
>>cannot do it, he deserves to fail.
>Hm, just because a student is born with the knowledge, he/she should deserve
>the grade and credit although he/she didn't do well in the class???
What is the purpose of a grade? The legitimate purposes are to
tell the world what the student knows and can do, and to advise
the student on the same matter. One can have the latter without
the former; I believe in comprehensive examinations to provide
information to others.
>I respect students who try hard and give their best. I have no respect for
>smart students who don't live up to their talents. If a student works full time
>and still can't do it, I'll never ever fail him/her. To me, the most important
>thing is that you give your best.
This might be from the standpoint of socialist ethics, but not
from the standpoint of education. Especially if grades are not
public knowledge, one is doing a service by failing a student
who is unable to grasp the material. The current system is too
much of pass them up the line, adjusting to the level of those
in the classroom, and reducing the level of the education
received by almost everyone.
--
This address is for information only. I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Dept. of Statistics, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN47907-1399
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (765)494-6054 FAX: (765)494-0558
