Grades

STAFF EDITORIAL

In a few weeks, City College students will be waiting anxiously for their final grades. Some will be disappointed, others will be elated, and many will be relieved.

According to “Houghton Mifflin’s American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,” a grade is “the number, letter, or symbol indicating a student’s level of accomplishment.” City College instructors define accomplishment in different ways. In many classes, accomplishment is strictly performance — homework and exams — others teachers grade more on effort and creativity.

Professors should take into account the effort of students in extraordinary cases. For international students who are unfamiliar with our laws, a United States government class may be a challenge. The extraordinary effort it will take for a foreign student to apply the lessons learned should be acknowledged when their grade is considered.

Still, emphasis should always be on mastery of the subject. It is not enough to try very hard and show a creative mind and remain unable to comprehend the basics. If you can’t master the subject, are you really trying?

Critics must be judicious in calling for any reform of the grading process. Experience shows that most professors already give credit for effort and are aware of extraordinary cases — after all, they are the ones in the classroom.

THE PURSUIT OF EDUCATION

BY STEVE MOWLES
Editor

JACOB ANDRADE / SPECIAL TO THE GUARDSMAN

In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote that “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is a fundamental right of all men. He believed unlimited access to public education to be the road- map toward that pursuit.

He proposed “to provide an education adapted to the years, to the capacity, and the condition of everyone, and directed to their freedom and happiness." He envisioned “a system of
general instruction, which shall reach every description of our citizens from the richest to
the poorest.”

Today, this vision is becoming out-of-reach for a growingpercentage of the population. Tuition fees at California community colleges have jumped 42 percent in the last three years. A study done by the College Board found that tuition fees at four-year public colleges jumped 10 percent in 2004 and 13 percent in 2003.

At the same time financial aid for lower income students is diminishing. The U.S. Depart-ment of Education has a new formula for determining eligibility for low-income students receiving Pell Grants. The change will eliminate aid for 80,000 to 90,000 students nationwide. Another 1.3 million program recipients will find their aid reduced.

Jefferson felt that education was necessary for the survival of our country. “In a republican nation whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first importance." That’s something we should all consider in these times of budget cutbacks and corporate tax breaks.

e-mail: editorial@theguardsman.com

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

BY STEVE MOWLES
Editor

NATHAN WEYLAND / GUARDSMAN

City College of San Francisco students may be as diverse as a box of crayons but most agree on what success means to them: meeting their goals.

I asked students of varying ages, genders, races and nationalities what success means to them and they responded with a variety of attitudes. Some were friendly and others were hostile. Answers ranged from deeply philosophical to “get lost ink breath.” But 90 percent of those I talked to were clear about having specific goals in their lives.

Students listed many reasons for being here. Some are trying to make up wasted years in high school. Others are taking advantage of lower tuition fees in pursuit of a degree. Some are trying to learn a new trade or skill to support themselves or their families. There are students taking ESL classes, students who want to be professional athletes or musicians, and some who are just looking for peace of mind.

In a graphic arts class, the teacher spent a good part of the first session talking about how important it is to have a blueprint for our lives. He advised writing down plans to reach our long-term goals. Some of the best instruction we get is not on the class syllabus.

Knowing where we are going and how we are going to get there is an important first step. As Yogi Berra once said, “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.” For many students, City College is an important stop on their journey to success.

e-mail: editorial@theguardsman.com

COMING IN

Faculty Poll

Do you grade on performance or effort?

Performance: 60%

Effort: 10%

Both: 30%

“Performance – the student has to be able to perform to move on.”
Keith McAlister, mathematics

“Effort before performance – it’s important that students try their best and take risks; I don’t want to penalize them.”
Victoria Heilweil, photography

ON THE RECORD

Did you have a role model in your life?

Carmen Mau

"Didn't find the right one yet."

Uwimana Adofoadon

"Jesus Christ because he saved my life."

Monica Mora

"My dad because he went through a lot of troubles in his life, and he overcame it."

Lissette Morreno

"Jennifer Lopez because she had many career accomplishments."

Carlos Pacheco

"My father because I consider him to be the smartest person I ever met."

Allen Caylao

"My mom because she taught me all my values."