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Here's one for you.Imagine you're presented with a primary source (let's say a written document). It's from a period you are unfamiliar with, and it makes a number of factual statements. You aren't entirely sure whether the statements it makes are accurate, reliable or true.Imagine that, for some reason, you can't just check these facts by referring to encyclopaedias etc. You have to make your judgements based on the document itself. What criteria would you use to determine whether any given statement is true or not?
This situation is impossible. Is there a time limit on research? You keep searching and digging until you can cross reference that source with another source that either mentions it or corroborates it in some other way. If you can't find such a corroborating source, then you have to concede the source you have as an anomaly yet unverified and draw no conclusions from it other than declaring it out there for further review.
In Colonial times, the Gentry received parcels of land from the King to administer under his charter. When Parliament took over, they became bureaucrats more or less. As the war approached, they became more and more isolated because of their unique position with the mother country. After the war, their titles were dissolved and their only distinction was their assets (if they were allowed to keep them that is). 🙂
So then what happened? Did they just disperse and forget about their heritage? ???
Then came the Civil War.......................
It's a racket pure and simple. However, if you put in the hours and study hard, you can actually get something out of the whole deal. Then you have to pray that the job market holds up by the time you're qualified to go to work in your field. 🙂
That's what we have entrance requirements for. If they can meet them, they get in — if they can't, they don't. College is a business like any other business. They will take your money as long as you have some to pay. They don't care whether you get your degree or not, so long as your bill is current. 🙂
The Landed Gentry congregated among themselves quite often, and usually for charitable festivities designed to ingratiate themselves with the poorer and middling classes by giving away food etc…In other words they practiced patronage in some form or fashion this way. In Colonial times, the Gentry received parcels of land from the King to administer under his charter. When Parliament took over, they became bureaucrats more or less. As the war approached, they became more and more isolated because of their unique position with the mother country. After the war, their titles were dissolved and their only distinction was their assets (if they were allowed to keep them that is). 🙂
Yeah it sucked compared to the original. Sam Worthington has yet to show me why he is getting all these big time roles.
Benjamin Butler and Kirby Smith had an economic relationship that often isn't mentioned in the history books.
What is your feeling about giving extra credit at the college level? Should it be an option, or should the regularly-scheduled quizzes and exams all that is allowed to make or break one's grade?
I believe in it because it will reveal who the "real" students are, and will give students another chance to learn more. It's a great motivational tool. I even believe in offering an extra assignment to replace a bad grade (so long as the assignment is "tougher" or more involved than the previous task it replaces. Use it as a teaching tool and you can't go wrong. Grades are not the end all be all of the class. They too are just a tool to measure progress....not as a means of reward or punishment.
I would think once you are at the college level, you let the students do what they want. If they want to learn, great, if not, they don't have to attend class, and nobody can make them. You can try to create a participation component of your class to encourage their contribution, but outside of this, they are adults and their final grade is the consequences.
