On 10 Jan 2009 at 16:11, Raymond Rogoway wrote: > What does it cost (non-monetarily) either the professor or the college > to pass this student? Think of it as a mitzvah. Think of it as an act > of kindness. Think of it as good karma. In term of the student, it > would be determinative in his life's journey. In terms of the > professor and the college it would be inconsequental. > > Too often we get trapped in policy, rules, shoulds, oughts, etc. and > forget that we are dealing with another human being.
Given that at our school, a pass is 50%, at one time we had an official policy that no grades be submitted in the range 47-49%. Even after the policy was rescinded, I continued it as my personal policy, rounding up to a bare pass the sad sacks who fell just below. That way, I reasoned, I acknowledged that the task of assigning grades isn't a perfect one, and someone who falls just a bit below might, in a just universe, really deserve to be ranked a bit higher. But 46% is a flunk for sure. And even a pass at 50% is no great honour, and does little to enhance the student's record. So I wasn't giving much away. Applying this to Carol's difficult case, I'd say that surely some way could be found to give this student the small additional boost to get him through the system (and out of the classroom). So I endorse Raymond's articulate and persuasive opinion above. Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
