Posted on 04/16/2010 7:33:18 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Grade inflation appears to have become policy at Louisiana State University, where Professor Dominique G. Homberger was removed from teaching an introductory biology course for giving tough grades. USA Today reports that the professor
... gives brief quizzes at the beginning of every class, to assure attendance and to make sure students are doing the reading. On her tests, she doesn't use a curve, as she believes that students must achieve mastery of the subject matter, not just achieve more mastery than the worst students in the course. For multiple choice questions, she gives 10 possible answers, not the expected 4, as she doesn't want students to get very far with guessing.
"The class in question is an entry-level biology class for non-science majors, and, at mid-term, more than 90% of the students in Dr. Homberger's class were failing or had dropped the class. The extreme nature of the grading raised a concern, and we felt it was important to take some action to ensure that our students receive a rigorous, but fair, education. Professor Homberger is not being penalized in any way; her salary has not been decreased nor has any aspect of her appointment been changed."
"I believe in these students. They are capable," she said. And given that LSU boasts of being the state flagship, she said, she should hold students to high standards. Many of these students are in their first year, and are taking their first college-level science course, so there is an adjustment for them to make, Homberger said. But that doesn't mean professors should lower standards.
Homberger said she was told that some students had complained about her grades on the first test. "We are listening to the students who make excuses, and this is unfair to the other students," she said. "I think it's unfair to the students" to send a message that the way to deal with a difficult learning situation is "to complain" rather than to study harder.
Good for her! Finally, a professor who understands that coddling these kids does nothing but cripple them later in life when they run face-first into reality.
Grading on a curve was the beginning of the end, IMHO
President Obummer removed for two-faced gloating (lying and bragging about it has become the norm at WH)
I hypothesize that if you spent more time reading the class material and showing up for class and less time staying up all night to do bong hits and missing her class, you would be passing her class.
You make your course ridiculously easy, you get good student evaluations, the administration pats you on the back and this keeps the enrollment high and the tuition bucks coming in.
That’s exactly what I am involved with and I don’t care, I play the game because as a grad student I only have to do it one more year. But God bless this professor.
I wonder how many LSU football and basketball players were in her class and whether the coaches made a phone call to the Dean.
It’s a far cry from the days when Woody Hayes taught a History class at Ohio State.
However, if 90% of the class is failing, she needs to do something differently.
ha, if only Obozo had encountered enough profs like this at Columbia and Harvard..... he never could have graduated!
AHA!!!Caught that bitch being a good teacher......fire her immediately...what if this gets out!!!
“You make your course ridiculously easy, you get good student evaluations, the administration pats you on the back and this keeps the enrollment high and the tuition bucks coming in.
That’s exactly what I am involved with and I don’t care, I play the game because as a grad student I only have to do it one more year. But God bless this professor.
We appreciate your candor.
Actually not all athletes are poor students. Some of them are very good students, do the work, and show respect to the professors. They tend to be the swimmers, lacrosse players, and runners. Football and basketball players can be problematic but not all athletes.
Bull! It’s a college course if you are failing you have to cut down on the parties and study. Ten percent passed it so it is not an impossible task!! I think the 90% are probably either hunkering down or have dropped the course, either way her class will improve considerably.
Some Ivy League schools are far wose. Take a look at the reading lists for Cornell humanities courses, for example. What is said about white males would be hate speech if said about any other minority.
You mean she expects people to work, study, learn and succeed??? Why the BASTARD!!!
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