School Drama
It's been an interesting week so far. A while back I mentioned that I was tired of people in my Anatomy class acting like we were still in junior high, and I have to say it has reached a new low. Beware, this is my rant on the subject.
In the last week we have had a both a Lab Practical and a unit Lecture Exam, both giving 100 points towards our class point total. So they were both a big deal. The trouble starts with the fact that our Professor is know as the hardest to take Anatomy from on Campus. (And judging on what those who have transferred in from MSSU have said, she's tougher than whoever they have.) There are three prof who do this class, and I have Mrs. Pugh-Towe. In my opinion she is the best of the three because of the detail she goes into and expects us to know. But that is also what makes her the most difficult.
The drama starts with the fact that she grades on a curve, which so far has always benefited the class. Well, on one or both of our last two exams someone from my class, the 8am one told some people in the 10am class what some of the questions were. The curve is combining both classes. We have not yet been handed back either of these two exams, so all we can see is our grades as they are listed on Blackboard. That means we have NO IDEA what the curve may or may not have been. But some people are convinced that those who gave away the questions have thrown the curve and ruined us all. There have been nasty confrontations, back-stabbing gossip and near classroom tantrums over this.
All I have to say is grow up! First of all, whether or not the Prof uses a curve is their choice, not your right. And since it has always benefited us it's a privilege. Secondly, the curve has never been more than one or two points. I think there was one time last semester when we actually had a three point curve, but that is the exception. You should not be counting on the curve for your grade. If you are in the high D bracket and you are counting on the curve to pull you up to a C, frankly you need to try more, study harder. Go see Prof Reese at the tutoring table for help, it's free and that's what it's for. Swap notes with your table neighbour - maybe they wrote something down you missed. But don't make your bad grade everyone else's fault. I know of only one person in the class who is not happy with their grade whose schedule is so full there is little more they can reasonably do to improve the situation.
If you are a high B and you want to move up to the A bracket, obviously you are already trying. Enough people fail Pugh-Towe for you to know that. But a B in her class is nothing to be ashamed of. Certainly nothing to be attacking others over.
But the worst offenders are those already in the A bracket. Yes, you've been working hard. I applaud that. But attacking people over the curve? You have an A! As my brother reminded me, an A is an A. After this class is finished all your transcript will show is an A. You got a 4.0. It will not matter whether you had a 92 or a 98. I know those who are the most angry are not people on A+ scholarships nor vying for top honours. It's just pettiness. So please let it go.
Update:
Apparently I myself narrowly avoided being blacklisted in all this because after the lecture exam, I was seen sharing a table in the library with a 10 am student. Wow, having a friend in the other class is now consorting with the enemy? She told people that all I told her was that she really needed to understand the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide during ventilation and respiration. No more than Pugh-Towe would have told her. Whew, close call!
In the last week we have had a both a Lab Practical and a unit Lecture Exam, both giving 100 points towards our class point total. So they were both a big deal. The trouble starts with the fact that our Professor is know as the hardest to take Anatomy from on Campus. (And judging on what those who have transferred in from MSSU have said, she's tougher than whoever they have.) There are three prof who do this class, and I have Mrs. Pugh-Towe. In my opinion she is the best of the three because of the detail she goes into and expects us to know. But that is also what makes her the most difficult.
The drama starts with the fact that she grades on a curve, which so far has always benefited the class. Well, on one or both of our last two exams someone from my class, the 8am one told some people in the 10am class what some of the questions were. The curve is combining both classes. We have not yet been handed back either of these two exams, so all we can see is our grades as they are listed on Blackboard. That means we have NO IDEA what the curve may or may not have been. But some people are convinced that those who gave away the questions have thrown the curve and ruined us all. There have been nasty confrontations, back-stabbing gossip and near classroom tantrums over this.
All I have to say is grow up! First of all, whether or not the Prof uses a curve is their choice, not your right. And since it has always benefited us it's a privilege. Secondly, the curve has never been more than one or two points. I think there was one time last semester when we actually had a three point curve, but that is the exception. You should not be counting on the curve for your grade. If you are in the high D bracket and you are counting on the curve to pull you up to a C, frankly you need to try more, study harder. Go see Prof Reese at the tutoring table for help, it's free and that's what it's for. Swap notes with your table neighbour - maybe they wrote something down you missed. But don't make your bad grade everyone else's fault. I know of only one person in the class who is not happy with their grade whose schedule is so full there is little more they can reasonably do to improve the situation.
If you are a high B and you want to move up to the A bracket, obviously you are already trying. Enough people fail Pugh-Towe for you to know that. But a B in her class is nothing to be ashamed of. Certainly nothing to be attacking others over.
But the worst offenders are those already in the A bracket. Yes, you've been working hard. I applaud that. But attacking people over the curve? You have an A! As my brother reminded me, an A is an A. After this class is finished all your transcript will show is an A. You got a 4.0. It will not matter whether you had a 92 or a 98. I know those who are the most angry are not people on A+ scholarships nor vying for top honours. It's just pettiness. So please let it go.
Update:
Apparently I myself narrowly avoided being blacklisted in all this because after the lecture exam, I was seen sharing a table in the library with a 10 am student. Wow, having a friend in the other class is now consorting with the enemy? She told people that all I told her was that she really needed to understand the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide during ventilation and respiration. No more than Pugh-Towe would have told her. Whew, close call!