letters to the editor

Work hard to make good grades, your future could depend on it

On Jan. 24, I read the Skiff and came across the article written by Rick Perez titled “Concentrate on knowledge, not grades.” Perez expresses that we are “trying to learn for the sake of the expectations of others instead of our own.” He also feels that as students, we shouldn’t concentrate on making the grades but learning from the experience we obtain as college students outside the classroom. I believe grades are just as important, if not more than the knowledge we obtain in school.

As a sophomore education major, I have come to understand a lot of things, one of them being the fact that there are a lot of people in my field becoming teachers. When I graduate in May 2003 I will be competing for jobs against my peers.

What does an employer do when it comes down to a tight decision between two people? The employer considers your grades, those “silly little numbers” as Perez calls them. Some employers don’t look at grades, but would you take the chance of losing a job over the fact that the other person worked hard and got A’s and B’s, while you only concentrated on the lessons learned in the outside world?

I wouldn’t.

I was extremely disturbed by some of the comments that Perez made in this column. He referred to TCU as a “ridiculous institution.” If it was really that ridiculous, why would so many students come here and pay all the money to receive an education when they could easily go to a state university for less than half the tuition we pay here? We come because it isn’t a ridiculous institution, and we know we will get the best education possible.

Another comment I found offensive was when Perez stated, “Don’t let your professors fool you into thinking that they are teaching you something or that they can even teach at all. Most of our professors are worthless and aren’t worth the $1,200 you or your parents fork out for the class. What they give you is entirely subjective and biased.” This statement is pure opinion. If all professors were like that, why are we still here? We would have left a while ago, and no one new would be coming in every semester. Everyone is going to have at least one professor who isn’t to their liking. After all, no one is perfect.

I have to agree with some ideas Perez stated in his column. The fact that “Life is nothing but tests, and we are constantly being judged and graded” is true, but that should make it even more important to make the grades while you still can.

Most of your training does come from actually practicing the profession you’ve chosen. But my advice to my fellow students is much different than that of Perez. I say continue working hard and live up to the expectations of this college and its professors. For the rest of our lives we will be following instructions given to us by our future employers, and we must give 150 percent every time.

— Valarie R. Campagna
sophomore education major

Life experiences outweigh the importance of classroom grades

I am writing in response to Rick Perez’s article, “Concentrate on knowledge, not grades.” According to the article, students should not allow grades to be the center of attention during their college years. For the most part, I agree with this argument. Although we are constantly tested and evaluated, life is not only about grades. Life is about experiences you learn both in and out of the classroom.

There are many ways to determine how much we have learned. Grades are not the most effective way to measure knowledge. As an international student, I know this first-hand. In my freshman composition class, I felt my constant effort and the knowledge I gained form enrolling in the class was not reflected whatsoever by my grade.

To my understanding, good grades do not necessarily mean good comprehension. How many times have you gotten a high grade on an assignment and felt that you did not learn anything? Like Perez, I am not saying someone who does get high grades does not learn. To some people, memorizing many definitions is trouble-free, and therefore these people make higher grades. But is this what we want to make of our experience at TCU? Going back and remembering that all we did was sit for hours to memorize meaningless information? The true challenge is grading ourselves based on the knowledge that we have acquired, whether that means an A or a C.

I also agree with Perez when he says, “Our real learning comes from our everyday experiences.” Such experiences involve making decisions that are not necessarily graded but instead judged. We are judged by our friends and family because they interrogate our opinions to question our beliefs. We are not given a grade for answering; we do this as part of the communication process by interacting with others.

It is from these experiences — that we gain most of the knowledge that helps us grow as individuals. Unconsciously we take sides on arguments or show strong preferences over what we value. We make the decisions that will help determine our future based on what we learn every day.

I am quite perturbed by one of Perez’s points concerning his advice to students. Perez’s advice is, “Don’t let your professors fool you into thinking that they are teaching you something or that they can even teach at all.” I strongly disagree with him on this point. Guidance from teachers, even class discussions, helps us reach a state in which we challenge and question our thoughts.

hat we conclude is of tremendous benefit for those important decisions that we make in our lives. Take, for example, a world religion class. You may not remember the individual facts you learned, but you definitely recall that you questioned what your beliefs were compared to what other classmates thought. You share opinions which, in turn, may strengthen what you already thought, or may even change your mind.

I have one more piece of advice for new students. Take advantage of all the opportunities that may come. If you ask me, do not make grades your number one priority, but also do not make them the last one.

— Anaité Dengo
sophomore arts and science premajor

Stock Show better classified as fund raiser for child’s future

When I first saw the article about the livestock sale at the Stock Show I was very upset. I read on and realized the author did not have the facts he needed.

The animals that go to the Stock Show are raised with great care, unlike most animals raised for the processing industry. The animals are exercised and their diets are closely monitored. The meat from these animals is far superior to what you buy in your local market. This is why the owners of Del Frisco’s were willing to pay so much for the animal they bought.

The second reason these animals bring so much is because the Stock Show is a fund-raising event. Not a fund raiser to pay for a parent’s vacation, but one to pay for the kid’s college. I know several people who are paying for their education with money they made showing animals in stock shows. These sales are a way for children growing up on a farm or ranch to use the skills their parents have taught them to make money to further their education.

Also, the children are not given pets to take care of. They are given projects to raise, knowing they will be sold at the show. If the children do get attached they still know ahead of time that the animal is going to be sold.

The sale also benefits the kid’s family. If a child’s project shows well, it reflects well on the family farm and will bring them business. A livestock show is the American farmer or rancher’s way of advertising.

The stock show is good for everyone involved. The kids learn about their family’s business. The families get more business. The city hosting the show gets revenue from the extra people in town. And the buyers get the finest meat available and a great public image for being so charitable.

— Jimmy Pierce
junior theater production major

Editorial policy: The content of the Opinion page does not necessarily represent the views of Texas Christian University. Unsigned editorials represent the view of the TCU Daily Skiff editorial board. Signed letters, columns and cartoons represent the opinion of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board.

Letters to the editor: The Skiff welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be typed, double-spaced, signed and limited to 250 words. To submit a letter, bring it to the Skiff, Moudy 291S; mail it to TCU Box 298050; e-mail it to skiffletters@tcu.edu or fax it to 257-7133. Letters must include the author’s classification, major and phone number. The Skiff reserves the right to edit or reject letters for style, taste and size restrictions.