a crisis of competence: SAVING THE HUMANITIES

[alice wellintown]

whatever one thinks of tom wolfe, his charlotte simmons is required
reading for anyone who hopes to understand the latest crisis in the
humanities, in education, in college...whatever. the kid would not put
the paper back where he found it, on the internet, for two reasons:
she is not in the habit of putting things back in their place; she
payed good money for it and she is not in the habit of giving away
what she can sell. a C would do the job if the prof has any reputation
and integrity. a B would only piss her off as she would expect an A
from a Prof who would play by the tuition rules.

there is no crisis in the humanities or in education; the cost is the
only crisis, but nothing can be done about this. we educators are
expensive and no technic will increase our productivity.

> The most important reform IMHO would go something like the following:
>
> Look, kid, I'm giving you a B because someone (maybe even yourself) is
> paying this university about $50,000 a year. Less than a B would smack of
> ingratitude. However, my young friend,  I'd be inexcusably derelict in my
> pedagogical function if I didn't tell you that your term paper is complete
> gibberish. Please don't even think about putting it on the internet.
>
> P