Xref: utzoo comp.edu:1591 sci.math:5153 sci.physics:5198 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!mailrus!ukma!rutgers!joyce!gds From: gds@spam.istc.sri.com (Greg Skinner) Newsgroups: comp.edu,sci.math,sci.physics Subject: Re: Student and Course Integrity Message-ID: <15453@joyce.istc.sri.com> Date: 14 Dec 88 16:41:55 GMT References: <1131@osupyr.mast.ohio-state.edu> <1887@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> Sender: news@joyce.istc.sri.com Reply-To: gds@spam.istc.sri.com (Greg Skinner) Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park CA Lines: 40 In article johnm@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com (John Murray) writes: >The answer to what has happened to academic integrity appears in another >posting to this newsgroup. > >> From: gds@spam.istc.sri.com (Greg Skinner) >> Message-ID: <15338@joyce.istc.sri.com> >> I took a class called Social Psychology in my senior year. . . . >> . . . . at the first class meeting, the >> professor passed a sheet around that you could sign which would >> guarantee you an A if you did not attend any more classes. However, >> you forfeited your guaranteed A (you had to take the final and earn it >> instead) if you returned to class. > >Absolutly incredible!!! And some professors have the audacity to blame >the students for degeneration and loss of motivation! In this particular case, I would say that both students and professor were to blame. The blame fell on the students because they were looking for an easy way out. The blame fell on the professor because he succumbed to their desires. However, I believe the problem is part of an even larger problem that relates to the decline of our economy. To a certain extent, we are taught that "might makes right" and "if you're slow, you blow". Cooperation has been replaced by competition. More people are looking for ways to make a fast buck. This gets reflected in academia by talented students seeking fortunes instead of pursuing graduate work, or struggling students abandoning their studies to seek fortunes. I don't believe either of these is necessarily bad, taken on its own. In the larger context of our slipping educational system, however, it contributes to the dearth of qualified teachers, PhD's, etc. In addition, others who might pursue academic careers may have lost faith in the academic system for various reasons. I realize that not everyone thinks this way. However, from seeing the end-products of the educational system, and the movement in industry towards quick returns instead of measured goals, I believe this is an increasing trend. --gregbo