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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, March 16, 1965
When You're In Doubt, Try It Out--Kansan Classified
Professor Prefers Honesty To 'Grapevine' Pans, Praise
An award-winning professor from Indiana University has found a way to communicate with his students.
Henry H. H, Remak, a visiting Humanities lecturer, will speak on "The Controversy in Comparative Literature" at 8 p.m. tonight in Fraser Auditorium.
Remak gave his views yesterday concerning an Indiana University practive of having students evaluate their professors.
"You're going to have student evaluation whether you like it or not," Remak said. "This is what I call the trickle down or grapevine method."
"IT IS APPALLING to note that this is sometimes the only way a teacher is evaluated," he said.
Speaking for the German department at the University of Indiana, Remak said evaluation sheets were passed out to students on a voluntary basis. "We make sure this is done anonymously," he said.
"WE LEARN A lot and find students are very fair," he said. "The main value is to the individual teacher. It's between him and his own conscience."
Remak said that these sheets are kept by a student until grades are in and then they are turned over to the teacher.
Remak said he received about a 60 to 70 per cent response from students who are asked to participate.
"I am suspicious of a teacher who doesn't want to know what students feel about him," he said.
THESE EVALUATION sheets never go to a higher authority, Remak said. The only case where this might be done is when honor students are asked to comment on instructors after graduation.
Concerning student-teacher relations, Remak said that because of university expansion and more students, something must be done in the area of student-teacher cooperation.
"In my department, each teacher must see every student once a semester. There is a necessity for more informal relation and more intellectual fun." he said.
REMAK SAID that too much importance was placed on grades.
"Students are studying harder than ever before, but they are given no chance to use free time for reading or discussing," he said.
In discussing both research and classroom work, Remak said the administration usually decides on the time spent on each.
"Research must be an important
factor in teaching, however, teachers must find a way to carry it over into classroom work," he said.
FEDERAL AID to education was another topic which Remak believed was important for the American educational system.
"Many people fear federal control. However, safeguards against federal control can be set up," he said.
Remak suggested the federal government encourage schools to meet certain standards at which time monetary assistance would be given.
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1424 Crescent Road
Dr. Walter Meserve and his discussion
of
The Egoist
by Bonaventura Tecchi "Modern Man's Spirituality and Morality"
4:30 Tuesday March16
Forum Room, Kansas Union Free Coffee
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