Philosophy
Yesterday was the last day of school for the shorties. The shorter was in kindergarten and the question arose whether he is now a first-grader. It was generally accepted that he now has the status of "going into first grade," but the question was whether that was a sufficient condition to be a first-grader. If he is asked "What grade are you in?", could he answer "First grade" without having yet attended a single class in first grade? Is it walking into the classroom on the first day of school or having completed all of the requirements necessary to walk in that confers the elevated status of first grader?
- The Objectivity Of Grades
I was going to respond to the ongoing thread in yesterday's post, but thought that the argument deserved its own space in order to be thorough. The claim has been put forward and agreed to that grades on work like papers is subjective and thereby...
- Gender And Grades
Last week I was a teacher. Next week I will be a philosopher. This week I am a professional grader. So, a grade question. Why are women better students? Not a universal claim, but on average my female students are better than my male students. A friend...
- A Grading Thought Experiment
This is one of the times of year when those of my ilk turn from teachers into graders. A colleague of mine proposed an experiment the other day and I'm interested to see if your intuitions are the same as mine. Take a stack of papers, grade just...
- Congratulation To Chemistry Competitor...trent Morris
Winners of the You be the Chemist competition Saturday at Penn State Berks are, from left, Trent Morris, 13, Berks Christian School, first place; Marc Chmielewski, 12, Wilson West Middle School, third place; Haley Savastano, 11, Hamburg Middle...
- Her Sister Vanya Shivashankar Follows Her Success
This would be a spelling bee first...sister winners. "Sister of 2009 national champ wins Olathe Spelling Bee and a shot at the title" by Kevin Wright Februrary 11th, 2010 The Kansas City Star Spelling excellence runs in the Shivashankar family. Vanya...
Philosophy
Elementary School Ontology
Yesterday was the last day of school for the shorties. The shorter was in kindergarten and the question arose whether he is now a first-grader. It was generally accepted that he now has the status of "going into first grade," but the question was whether that was a sufficient condition to be a first-grader. If he is asked "What grade are you in?", could he answer "First grade" without having yet attended a single class in first grade? Is it walking into the classroom on the first day of school or having completed all of the requirements necessary to walk in that confers the elevated status of first grader?
- The Objectivity Of Grades
I was going to respond to the ongoing thread in yesterday's post, but thought that the argument deserved its own space in order to be thorough. The claim has been put forward and agreed to that grades on work like papers is subjective and thereby...
- Gender And Grades
Last week I was a teacher. Next week I will be a philosopher. This week I am a professional grader. So, a grade question. Why are women better students? Not a universal claim, but on average my female students are better than my male students. A friend...
- A Grading Thought Experiment
This is one of the times of year when those of my ilk turn from teachers into graders. A colleague of mine proposed an experiment the other day and I'm interested to see if your intuitions are the same as mine. Take a stack of papers, grade just...
- Congratulation To Chemistry Competitor...trent Morris
Winners of the You be the Chemist competition Saturday at Penn State Berks are, from left, Trent Morris, 13, Berks Christian School, first place; Marc Chmielewski, 12, Wilson West Middle School, third place; Haley Savastano, 11, Hamburg Middle...
- Her Sister Vanya Shivashankar Follows Her Success
This would be a spelling bee first...sister winners. "Sister of 2009 national champ wins Olathe Spelling Bee and a shot at the title" by Kevin Wright Februrary 11th, 2010 The Kansas City Star Spelling excellence runs in the Shivashankar family. Vanya...