Re: “Failing Introductory Economics”
To the editor: I admire the fact that Professor Ross is not willing to “dumb down” his class in order to make it more popular. Colin Barnett Albuquerque, NM
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Author’s response to recent Letter to the Editor
To the editor: A recent essay in the JMC (“A Better Way to Teach Law,” 17 August), generated much constructive, professional feedback. There is one correspondent who brought up an important point that provides an opportunity to further clarify my argument, if I may, and for that I thank the JMC Letter writer (“Engineering education … Continue reading “Author’s response to recent Letter to the Editor”
Engineering education requirements aren’t all that different from law
Being both a US-trained lawyer and having formerly held a professional engineer’s license, I have some personal knowledge of both the engineering and legal professions. The author misunderstands an engineer’s progression through the engineering profession. This misunderstanding harms his argument about reform of the legal education system. A new graduate from a four-year engineering program … Continue reading “Engineering education requirements aren’t all that different from law”
The mismatch admissions problem must stop
To the editor: The Mismatch Problem? Certainly we can and probably should spend the time & effort to study, with significant rigor, the outcomes of mismatched admissions to demanding programs….but truly, it’s much simpler than all that. Consider a Track Meet. In order to run the 800 m. at State you have to be fast. … Continue reading “The mismatch admissions problem must stop”
The goal of a foreign language requirement isn’t fluency
To the editor: The purpose of foreign language education is not to become fluent in a language, which you note but seem to ignore in your final argumentation. Rather, basic language education is meant to teach students who will work in an increasingly global world other ways of being. When we teach basic language courses, … Continue reading “The goal of a foreign language requirement isn’t fluency”
The importance of demanding performance before promotion
To the editor: A response to Robert Weissberg: It might have been a failure of good intentions, but it was more likely to have been living so high up in an ivory tower as to be unable to see the ground. I lost interest in college about three quarters of the way through my first … Continue reading “The importance of demanding performance before promotion”
Compromising our values undermines our educational system
To the editor: I have read Robert Weissberg’s excellent article “How the Best of Intentions Created Today’s Academic Disasters.” This important article captures the often unspoken and infrequently discussed concerns harbored by many of us in academia and the business community. Too often, we have compromised our standards and values on behalf of diversity and our … Continue reading “Compromising our values undermines our educational system”
Grading students serves the system – not learning
To the editor: I was pleasantly surprised by Douglas King’s “A Defense of the ‘Ungrading’ Movement” (July 13, 2022). This article was very good, I thought, at uncovering the intentionality inherent in the assignment of grades. The process of grading pupils and students serves the system — not learning. As an unintended consequence, King’s crucial admission/realization begins … Continue reading “Grading students serves the system – not learning”
Is “ungrading” better than traditional methods of assessment?
To the editor: Prof. King chases the Ungrading Grail, believing it to be the Answer. He explains: “faced with this systemic and perennial predicament (that different teachers have different expectations and varying standards), a student’s orientation becomes transactional: Give each teacher what he or she wants, so to acquire the grade one needs.” The student, … Continue reading “Is “ungrading” better than traditional methods of assessment?”
Liberty Institute’s failure to launch
To the editor: How disappointing to have read Professor Lowery’s article on the abject failure of UT leadership. As the saying goes: “no good deed goes unpunished…”. In this case it is “no good idea goes unpunished”. How long will it be until Associate Professor Richard Lowery will find himself looking for a job in … Continue reading “Liberty Institute’s failure to launch”