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(Tenured Radical)

Thursday, April 08, 2004

From: Janice Sidley

To: Alliance for As Members [for background see UD Archives 22 & 27 February]

Subject MERDE, VENTILATEUR, II

Guys: No doubt today's news from Princeton is disturbing to you. The New York Times reports that the administration there is on a grade deflation rampage, mandating that the percentage of A's must be slashed from 46% to 35% of all grades, and insisting that professors and departments be aware of their grading patterns.

But haven't we seen this before? Harvard tried the same gambit recently and, after a brief decline, grades shot right back up and stayed there! I think we can anticipate the same pattern here. Professors want to do the right thing. They may be temporarily intimidated into lowering grades, but they always come to their senses again pretty quickly, if the past is anything to go by.

So - never fear. And - if you will permit me - I'd like to share with you something a longtime student of mine wrote on her student evaluation form about me last semester (see below). I don't pretend it's great art. I only say -- this is why we are and will always be... The Alliance for A's.

Love,
Janice

-------In the space below, please write any further comments you would like to make about this course.


HOW DO I LOVE THEE?

How do I love thee? Let me count my A's.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My grade can reach. When I'm feeling kind of tight
And unable to make any sense at all, even then you praise.
I love thee to the level of every A's
Most perfect little roof; whatever I say, you say it's right
And therefore I love thee truly;
I love thee purely, as pure as the line of A's
That run down my grade sheet. I love thee with a child's faith
In those who most deeply love her...

--- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, even if, one darkling night
God smote the A's from all our sights,
Still - still! - I would love thee!! -------------