2008/09/09 Amsterdam
B plus
Crap
Yesterday was my first day at the university of Leiden as guest lecturer. Before my class started I had coffee with a professor who told me an anecdote about another professor, fairly famous but dead. This man always gave his students a B+ (7). “Nobody deserves more than a B+,” he said. “To give less is not very kind. And if I don’t do this I have to actually read all that crap.”
9 comments
A B+ is very generous. He must've been a very kind person.
Indeed a kind person, with a sense of humour. But never try kind of remarks this if you are still a student.
We had to write an essay last year about a poem. I had some nice remarks, I thought. A few weeks later we discussed this poem in class, and students had to raise their hand to answer questions or just give answers. I gave some, and the professor said "Oh, yes, I hadn't thought of that. Very well", which made it clear he didn't read our essays as well. I don't mind too much though.
Arnon A different matter
A little silly maybe, but I was curious after the meaning of the name 'Arnon', especially because it isn't such a popular name. "Rushing, roaring stream" that's what I found. Is it a coïncidence that Marianne named here son "Mayu" wich means "River"?
We need certain standards to refer on. As soon as these standards are totally being neglected we neglect ourselves. Good story, bad example
Arnon
Did you get any interesting questions from your students?
Jeanette
Yes.
Mieke
Arnon is a biblical name, the Arnon is a river that used to run into the Dead Sea. In Israel Arnon is a popular name.
B+
So the professor thought he could not educate even a single student to produce quality beyond a B+. I guess he didn't have to much confidence in his own abilities.