Is university as challenging as it should be?

Comments

[hard-working-student]

I think that University (especially UWO and Kings at least) is challenging in how it defines what your grades are in each class. I was stunned in first year when we were told that if our grades were too high, the next exam would be tougher to compensate. Or, if the marks were too low, then the grade would be bumped up by a certain percent.

Excuse me? I don't want a fake grade. Give me what I deserve and don't work against me getting good grades by specifically testing us harder. Maybe you're a good prof and we enjoy learning in your class and naturally do well - then you punish us for it?

The whole grade system is a complete farce. How can you challenge your students to work hard but then not let their grade reflect that?

[andrew]

In my experience at Western our academic requirements (of course varied from program to program) have been quite manageable and at times fairly simple. However, there are times when my courses seem overwhelming, which would be good except they are overwhelming in the wrong ways: instead of encouraging effective critical thinking they push for memorization; instead of creativity they stress structure; and instead of flair and dramatics they prefer the unexciting. These criticisms may be too much for educational sysem to adapt with ease because they cut to the very philosphy of modern universities. A precarious absence of intelletualism stagnates our creative spirits and minds as we are told we need to prepare ourselves for the work force, as opposed to being critical and thoughtful citizens. Perhaps these things would be too much for Canada - kids who actually question all of the b.s. which swarms the minds and words of our nation's leaders.