Rip et al-
I agree with much of what Rip said (included below). I'd just add that
quite often these things occur when a group perceives that no one is
listening to them (such lists have been around on the local level for eons.
The internet just spreads the information and quickens the pace a bit.) Of
course that also potentiates the hurt that such venting can cause. I try to
let my students know that they have a responsibility to let their feelings
be known (especially in the cases when they are correct), what their
recourses are (in terms of grade challenges, talking with the professor,
going over the professor's head to the department or division chair, etc).
Many times knowing someone is listening is enough. Other times it isn't
(though I'd rather see the list than have them make a trip to the local gun
show or engage in vandalism, which does occur!). I also point out that,
though I may be thick skinned and not be terribly harmed (at least it
doesn't last), many/most facutly take the feedback from students very
seriously/personally and are harmed, sometimes quite badly!, by such
adolescent attacks. (I do take the feedback seriously, by the way, I just
let the personal attacks/disliking slide off as best I can) Thus
encouraging the students to view their own responsibility, encouraging them
to take the proper actions rather than assuming faculty will "get even and
flunk me", and reminding them of the importance of community and trust
within the campus seems to be the wiser tack. Actively attacking web sites
etc., seems to me anyway, lends them credibility and legitimacy which they
do not deserve. (Kind of a free-speech issue anyway!)
Tim Shearon
>I went to that website where schools and profs are evaluated. I joined up
>with ficticious information. Now, I could (as a pseudostudent) give my
>courses glowing evaluations while slamming the courses of peers that I do
>not like, i.e., there is no preventing a person from evaluating a professor
>whose course they were never in.
>Add the fact that expected grade is the best predictor of course
>evaluations, and the fact that freshman have no frame of reference with
>which to grade college profs, and imho, the site is useless to anyone who is
>not naive.
>
>Rip
>
>______________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________
Timothy O. Shearon, PhD
Albertson College of Idaho
Department of Psychology
2112 Cleveland Blvd
Caldwell, Idaho
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
208-459-5840
