Luck

[cjsmith]

At physics lecture yesterday, the professor was making the point that she had given ample opportunity for students to earn extra credit. She pointed me out as an example, saying I had accumulated five percent. (This is the maximum, and it was earned by, get this, 1) showing up to lecture and 2) doing my homework. I wish I were kidding.)

Five or six people in the room yelled in an only-somewhat-friendly way "Oooo, luckyyyyyyyy!" That was the dominant word: lucky. The professor tried to point out that I had worked hard in this class, but I don't think that part of her message got across at all. It was as if the vocabulary she was using was in some other language.

Sometimes I worry about the future of this country, I really do. Lucky because I showed up to class? Lucky because I did the work after the professor told everyone we'd get credit for it? No. I don't think so. Lucky because I don't have cancer, that I'll buy. Lucky because I live in an area with ready access to community college courses, yes. Lucky because I bust my ass once I get there? No.

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine who's a high school teacher agrees that such a climate is rampant. It's discouraging to me too. I guess the problem is that they either have to do something like that, or they have to discriminate on the basis of ability. (I'm misquoting Tom Lehrer with that last phrase.) I can think of a handful of reasons why teaching to the test is more palatable than giving kids who don't understand the material a failing grade in the class.