Sooner or later one must "draw the line" and stand behind sound and justifiable policy. Rewarding anyone (students or not) for doing what would otherwise be expected of them (part of their job) is simply bad policy. Let's try to keep as much of the real world in academia as possible, and canceling class out of convenience is hardly the message we want to convey to the professionals and leaders of the future. Let's try to keep as much of reality in academia as possible. Its part of training our students for the "real world" that lies ahead. I am in favor of avoiding slippery slopes that gradually lead to unacceptable behavior. Sooner or later you cross a threshold after which everything is different, then you stand back and say, "how did we allow things to get this bad".
Jay
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From: Teaching Breakfast List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jagels, Fredric ([log in to unmask])
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 9:47 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Holidays
Harry et al,
I found this line in that article not a little curious, “One issue Loewner wanted to stress, however, was that the target of the resolution wasn't students who skip classes, but professors who call them off.” Some employees are encouraged to use benefit time for the Friday after Thanksgiving or the week between Christmas and New Years because most people take that day off anyway. Is something similar happening with students on the day before a holiday week and some profs have given in? What is the opinion towards profs who give extra credit for attendance on such days, or tests, or quizzes? It shouldn’t be necessary, but it reinforces the idea that “good studenting” includes attendance and the holiday, or vacation, begins when it begins-not the week before.
Rick
Rick Jagels
Education Specialist
College Assistance Migrant Program
111 Wilsbach Hall
State University of NY College at Oneonta
(607)436-2297
[log in to unmask]
From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pence, Harry ([log in to unmask])
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 7:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Holidays
Dear TBers,
Here is an interesting article on a college faculty who have taken a position against those who declare a holiday the day before the holiday really starts.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/01/28/vacation
Enjoy,
Harry
Harry E. Pence
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
SUNY Oneonta
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