{"id":35,"date":"2008-02-28T14:47:16","date_gmt":"2008-02-28T20:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.minkhollow.ca\/KB\/Blog\/?p=33"},"modified":"2014-09-12T12:02:17","modified_gmt":"2014-09-12T18:02:17","slug":"laborious-drudges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/minkhollow.ca\/beckerblog\/2008\/02\/28\/laborious-drudges\/","title":{"rendered":"Laborious Drudges"},"content":{"rendered":"Approximate Reading Time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

One learns more from a good scholar in a rage than from a score of lucid and laborious drudges. – Rudyard Kipling<\/a><\/em><\/h3>\n

The University of Calgary<\/a> says it cares about its students.<\/p>\n

Let’s see,<\/p>\n

“The U of C is pursuing the biggest single capital expansion in its history. Fuelled by Alberta\u2019s nation-leading economic growth, the university has embarked upon a $1.5-billion plan to add capacity for 7,000 more students and a host of new teaching and research activities.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From the U of Calgary<\/a> website:<\/p>\n

“Leading-edge teaching methods and technologies<\/strong><\/p>\n

A student-centred approach<\/strong><\/p>\n

The U of C\u2019s high-quality undergraduate education is characterized by the synthesis of research, teaching and learning. We enhance our students\u2019 experience by enabling them to take an inquiry-based approach through experiential learning \u2014 literally learning through experience. This leads to greater critical thinking skills, increased exposure to research methods, greater access to leading edge scholars, and it creates a more engaging, motivating learning environment for our students.” from http:\/\/www.ucalgary.ca\/about<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sounds great, huh?<\/p>\n

Say, have you EVER heard of a university that claims to be anything other<\/em> than the bestest and most caringest?<\/p>\n

And yet, instructors like Dr. Allison Dube<\/a> don’t get paid enough to make ends meet, let alone prepare for retirement. Dr. Dube, one of the best teachers on campus, has won the Student’s Union Teaching Award THREE times in the last three years (which may be a first for anyone on campus, ever.). He is a Political Science sessional instructor who holds a PhD from the London School of Economics, and yet the university has steadfastly refused to recognize his value to the institution.<\/p>\n

Hmmmm… what was that about “high-quality undergraduate education”? As someone who knows first hand what happens to faculty who try to stand up for students I would most strenuously advise people to NOT believe everything they read. This same institution that claims to espouse a student-centered approach criticized and then penalized me for such things as:<\/span><\/p>\n