Re: Letters of Reccomendation -Reply

[Stephen Newmann <newmann@msmary.edu>]

I've pretty much always thought that the "work world" (is that the "real"
world?) has successfully run a scam on educators by having us evaluate the
quality of the work our students do and then using our assessments as the
basis for hiring (or not) our students.  I've pretty much always thought
that evaluation has little or no place in education.  I've pretty much
always tought that we should make the skills and knowledge available to
all who want them and let them take what they will or want from what is
available.  Let the business world determine whether or not our students
have gleaned what they need in order to be successful on the job.  Perhaps
we should use the courts, as James suggests--perhaps we should sue
students who put us in the position of having to deny them recommendations
or of having to write poor ones for them.  Just this week I had to tell
one of my students (a young man I like very much) that I could not write a
good recommendation for him.  I did not say I'd not write one but I made
it clear that if I did he might not expect it to further his cause.  I
guess now I'll find myself in court.....
				--stephen
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 |   Stephen Newmann                                                  |
 |   Department of Rhetoric & Writing     VOICE: (301) 447-5367       |
 |   Mount Saint Mary's College           E-MAIL: NEWMANN@MSMARY.EDU  |
 |   Emmitsburg, Maryland USA 21727-7799                              |
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On Tue, 4 Feb 1997, User JWERCHAN wrote:

> hi folks,
> i get a really sick gnawing feeling in my gut when i read about this 
> letter stuff.  damned if we do; damned if we don't.  gosh, maybe there 
> should be more standardized testing for job applicants, and standardized 
> resume formats.  ooh! maybe this: sue mothers and fathers of those 
> disappointing workers for raising kids that turned out to be dirtbags.  
>     
> sounds like abuse of the legal system. the faintest visibility of deep 
> pockets on the horizon makes individual responsibility meaningless.
>  
> james werchan
> osu lima
>