Re: Eric and Fred's ideas on grading -Reply -Reply

[Jon Olson <olsonj@cla.orst.edu>]

James, your mention of passing made me think how resonant that word
can be for other sorts of educated behavior.  Reminds me of my
favorite joke in third grade--the one about the boy who told the
coach he wanted to play football.  What position?  Oh, quarterback
might be fun.  "Well," the coach asked, "can you pass a football?" 
After a moment's hesitation, the boy replied, "Heck, I can't even get
one in my mouth."

Lynne, what you said made sense:  "If we make our students stand up,
then maybe they can begin taking their own steps."  I especially like
that if the teacher is standing too, trying new steps.  And if they
get to dancing, now *that* sounds like good authoritative pedagogy!:)

Eric, I love Quincy's own particular way.  What a neat kid, and what
a splendid analogy.

Jeanne, in your inspired riff on marginalization, are you saying it's
all in one's point of view?  Perception is reality?  So if we're
*all* on the margins, couldn't we just as easily be smack dab in the
damn middle if we wanted? --Jon, olsonj@cla.orst.edu, Oregon State U.
     P.S.  Happy Birthday, Paula!

>>> User JWERCHAN <jwerchan@osulima2.lima.ohio-state.edu>  1/9/96,
01:26pm >>>
[snip] sometimes when i'm talking with non-academic folks, says
building trades  or farmers, i get embarassed at my education.  i
sometimes try to hide  the fact of my three degrees.  maybe I'm
"passing" (the term, you'll  recall, was used by light-skinned
african-americans who tried to pass for  white).  Now I wonder: am I
a farm boy trying to pass for an academic or  an academic trying to
pass for a farm boy?  I've felt marginalized from  both sides.

later, james osulima