Re: Letters of Reccomendation -Reply

[typapay@Rollins.Edu]

Stephen, I understand the point you make about our perhaps not being the
best people to assess our students' preparation for the corporate world.
I wonder if you would make the same argument regarding graduate school
letters?  If we can't write any letters, who will be doing such assessing?

I have another concern as well.  Whatever our own politics, in my area
students cannot be considered for most jobs available to them without
letters of reference from faculty.  (Of course, they also use Writing
Center directors for employer letters, as we do employ them to do a job--
and presumably assess their work periodically.)

Do we have the right to take our students' money for four years (I know, I
know, we give good value--the best in the market--for it), then refuse to
give them something they need to make use of their educations for
earning a livlihood?  I realize, of course, that the great value of what
we all teach goes far beyond the market and paychecks.  But I do want my
students to survive financially in order to do all the meaningful value-
building work their educations have introduced them to!

Just wondering.

Twila Yates Papay
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL
typapay@rollins.edu