University Daily Kansan
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Grading System Stirs Student Disagreement
It has been said that the grading system at KU is obsolete and that grades should be abolished. What is the student's opinion on this issue? Replies to this issue were:
Donald Chang, Waihiau Oahu, Hawaii senior: "I don't think the grading system should be abolished.Grades measure what the student knows in some courses, especially the technical courses such as mathematics."
Keith Barker, Bonner Springs junior: "I don't feel they should I wouldn't have any incentive to study if they did away with the grading system."
Bill Woo, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore: "I don't believe they should be. For many people grades form the only incentive for study."
Jon Baker, Olathe junior: "I am all for this idea of doing away with grades. Grades cause a tremendous amount of friction between student and instructor. The heat of this friction is imposed on the student in most cases."
Michael Wells, Kansas City, Mo.: "There is too much emphasis on grades. Too many students are governed by grades and not what they get out of the class. There should be some indication to the student, though, as to what he is accomplishing."
Charles Dewey, Wichita junior. "I'm for something like the European system of grading, where they have fewer tests and more of the work is done independently. One gigantic Western Civilization course in other words. Our system of grading places too much pressure on the students. When they go into their chosen profession they don't have the feeling of independence that is required of them."
Jim Day, Osowatomie graduate student: "Definitely. grades should be abolished. Students are too competitive under the present system of grading."
Bill Witter, Winfield graduate student: "The competitive system that is in effect at KU gives rewards to the intellectually superior only. There aren't enough "A" grades to go around. We aren't going to limit college to those gifted few who can obtain superior grades. Those students who cannot obtain high grades are left suffering from a feeling of insecurity. Their self esteem and esteem in the eyes of others is lowered. This will create emotional inadequacies which will be detrimental to their level of aspiration in life."
Jean Elson, Paola freshman: "Well, personally. I think they ought to have grades because if just a passing or failing grade is given, a student doesn't have any idea of how well he is doing."
Phyllis Anderson, Wellington freshman: "I think the present system makes you more aware of competition."
Bill Feitz, Olathe freshman: "I'm in favor of the present system because I feel it gives you a better chance to know exactly what you're doing in the course."
Perry Rashleigh, Little River senior: "I definitely agree. I'm against the present system."
Freddy Wilson, Bucyrus sophomore; "Last year I was opposed, but this year I'm inclined to agree because more students work to get good grades rather than for what they can get out of the course. I think they ought to abolish all tests except the final test, too."
William Behrmann, Lawrence graduate student: "I think the best idea at the University is no grades at all. I think a person should just be required to pass an examination at the end of a course."
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
by Dick Bibler
"WELL. WHEN YOU SAID YOU'D TAKE CARE OF CLOSING.
HOURS I THOUGHT YOU MEANT YOU HAD A DORM KEY."
With revulsion we read that a Mississippi grand jury declined to indict two white men charged with kidnapping a Negro boy. Six weeks ago, the same two men were freed on a charge of murdering the boy.
a bit o' blarney
By FLANAGAN
the grand jury cook the action although the boy's uncle testified that the two men took the boy from his home. A farmhand also testified that he saw the boy with of the defendants at his plantation.
We wonder when the Mississippi bigots will realize that a man is a human being because he has a free will and soul, and not because he's black, white, brown, or yellow. Ralph Bunche and George Washington Carver are honored, not because they are Negroes who gained acceptance by white men, but because they aided humanity.
At the murder trial the verdict was returned in such a short time as to make a farce out of justice. The jurors were warned by the defense that if they didn't exonerate the men, their ancestors would turn over in their graves.
Along this line, it is refreshing to realize that on this campus we have a judicial organization that operates with a purpose. We're speaking of the Student Court.
It seems that Mississippi wants to towallow in the ignorance that sent such men as Bilbo and Rankin to Congress. Although Negroes are black, the reputation of Mississippi justice is blacker.
Although not of any consequence as far as the nation is concerned, this court acts with a dignity uncommon to most student groups.
There is good reason behind this business-like manner. All seven justices are law students gaining experience and practicing procedures of utmost concern to them.
The court has jurisdiction over parking violations, smoking violations, and disputes between students and/or student groups. With the faculty advisory committee, it decides disputes over All Student Council legislation.
The court also provides competent counsel for defendants. After reading about the Mississippi decision, it gives us a good feeling to know that our campus problems, however minor they may be, are at least settled in a court of justice.
Student Earnings
BROOKINGS, S.D.—(U.P.)—Seven hundred and forty-eight students at South Dakota State College earned $149,185.30 in part time jobs during the 1954-55-school-year. Most students held jobs on the campus; others worked at numerous jobs in Brookings, a town of more than 7,-700 population.
Pole Delay
PLATTSMOUTH. Neb.—(U.P.)—Postmaster Les Niel received a notice from Washington saying a new flag pole would be erected in front of the postoffice immediately. He had requested the new pole after lightning struck the old one—four years ago.
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room, KU 251, Ad Room, KU 376 Member of the Inland Daily Press association. Associated Collegiate Press association. Mail advertising service, 420 Madison Avenue, N.Y. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in college). Mail to Kansas, every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods. Entered as second class student. 177 Bellevue Avenue, post office under act of March 3, 1879.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Gretchen Guinn  Managing Editor
Sam L. Jones, Marion McCoy, Dick Walt, Ted Blankenship, Assistant Managing Editors; John McMillean, City Editor; Barbara Karp, State Editor; Bolety, Telegraph Editor; Bob Bruce, Assistant Telegraph Editor; Jane Pecinvsky, Society Editor; Gladys Henry, Assistant Society Editor; Harry Elliott, SportsEditor; Ken Thomas, Assistant Sports Editor.
Lee Flanagan
Editorial Editor
Louis L. Hell, Lee An Urban, Association
Why John McMillion, you livin' doll!
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Charles Slodk. Business, M.
Write one of these-here-features every day and bless me if I don't come close to bein' a phi-beta-kappa! I just sat right down and laughed my blues away after readin' your words in the Daily Bugle from little-ole-j-buildin' over there in the woods. And study? Man, did I study from then on! Man!!
And—don't let anyone—including any of the aristocracy known as faculty-teachers-professors and youknowwhat tell you this "ain't higher education writin'—why, manboy you're really writin' now. Your sports-writing pleased the masculine sex around these parts—but I tell them now—you're goin' win all us feminine hearts right over to a major in journalism and how about that?
Charles Sledd Business Manager
Jack Fisher, Advertising Manager; Paul
Bunge, National Advertising Manager;
Robert Wolfe, Circulation Manager.
Hillbilly
Editor:
I wouldn't be surprised if you all hear this high-falutin' a-cappella choir singin' Webb Pierce's blues come time for their annual concert? How about that? Or could we be could hear one of Lefty Frizzell's numbers—oh boy!
But John-boy you just keep writin' and don't let nothin' get you down—if need be—we'll move old Mt. Oread down into Tennessee territory for a couple of semesters just to let this high-brow stuff wear off and some of this really good floatin' music get into these peepil!
Sarah-jane and all the girls
(Ed, note—Although this letter is unsigned, we thought the tenor of it was interesting enough to use. The general Kansan policy is that unsigned letters will not be published.)
Explosion of a hydrogen bomb is as mild as the falling of a feather compared to energy released by an exploding star, says the National Geographic Society.
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