I would like to reply to the Editorial dated November 7th in the Skyline View regarding the public posting of midterm grades. I addressed this issue today with my students currently in my history class. According to them, they can go to Websmart and access their grades if the instructor posts them. I asked them what they do if the instructor doesn’t post them and they responded with a resounding, “We go to the instructor and ask.”
Around the middle of the semester I give all my students a summary of their standing. I include their attendance, and their grades on each test or project. I let them know that this is not a final report. I let them know that this is where they stand as of today, and that this report will fluctuate as more information is added. I also let them know that if there are any discrepancies on the report that they need to let me know and submit supporting documentation. I always tell my students to not throw anything away at least for one year, particularly scantrons that may be needed to resolve a grading question. Is this time consuming? You betcha! Is it necessary? Absolutely. Some students thank me because they need to see something in writing that indicates how well or how poorly they are doing. Some fix the problem; others do not.
The writer observes that instructors are very busy, perhaps too busy to talk to students about this or any other issue. I agree and disagree. Yes, instructors are very busy. We teach five courses with an average of 45 students in each class. In addition, we are required to serve on campus-wide committees, develop new curriculum, write exams and think of new innovative ways to get students to think and become successful. I always laugh when students ask why can’t our “TA’s” (teaching assistants) grade papers or make up exams! But, the bottom line is that we wouldn’t have to do any of the above if we didn’t have students. Our students are our first priority. I tend to feel that if an instructor doesn’t have this engraved in their hearts and mind, then it maybe time to hit the road.
My students may have many things to say about me, however, one thing they cannot say is that I don’t offer my time and energy to help them. I always reinforce the fact that they can come to me any time to talk about anything on their mind. In fact, I write on their quizzes that we need to talk, let’s set up an appt. and they still don’t make an appointment. This is a two way street. There may be some faculty who need to be more responsive to the students; however, students need to be more responsive to faculty.
– Rosemary Bell, History instructor
Well… its a good thing I was bored waiting for my friend to get to school today, or else I would have never picked up the so unappealing skyline view.
I took the time to read it and can understand where you are coming from. Although I hate to break it to you, but 90% of what you talk about in your paper sucks.
Take this issue for instance. “Dr. Carr speaks on the black holocaust” On the front page all big? Don’t get me wrong. I believe that it’s an important issue that should be shared, but that as headline news?
“Sorry buddy… but YOU suck!” ; if you think something like that is worth headline news, you might wanna look into another career. Don’t get me wrong. You use this newspaper wisely by touching on subjects that are in fact very important but at the same time. LAME! For the book worms, video gamers, Rock’N Roll listeners, movie critics, and athletes; this is a good, insightful and entreating paper. But for the other 75% of the student body. Well, just by the papers you throw away each time to make room for the new issues, you can see how we feel about it.
“The Legacy of Myst”, you have two full pages for this when most likely only two percent of the school actually reads it. I have heard of it before, and I’m sure its great. But lets be realistic, two pages? Huge way to lose the attention of potential readers. Now “Drunk driver makes no plea”, that is something people want to read. I’m sure you had an article about that whole story long when the incident occurred and there probably isn’t much to touch up on it now.
But that right there is something that should have been on the front page. “Crime statistics” is a good one too. “A story on life and surviving”, that was a good one. “Art and music teach students”: you lost points. “The fashion view”: lost major points. Whoever does your fashion column is probably a walking fashion tragedy. The people interviewed for the article… I hate to say this because it’s rude of me but I have to. They cannot dress! There’s is nothing fashionable about anything they are wearing. Yes the fur thing is “in” this season, but please, know how to wear it.
Anywho… back to other places in the Skyline View where you’ve lost points. “Phoenix Wright: making the law fun”; ” Book of the week: The Hobbit”; “Movie Review: Saw 2”.Now Saw 2″ was an OK film. But the students of skyline don’t want to read an article on it.
I think I have made my point very clear. Now after getting this opinion of one of your potential readers. I not only challenge you to come out and say something back, but I also challenge you to making the appropriate changes to your paper in order to fix “your problem” of the little readers it attracts and lower the amount of paper you waste by printing issues that never get read. Thank you so kindly for taking this time to listen.
– Jon