A STUDENT OPINION STUDENT-RATED FACULTIES By BOB SWORTWOOD The issue of a student-rated faculty is an important one. Student rating is a means by which all students can cooperate to improve the college. it allows a middle ground tor construc- tive critiCism. New, when Grinnell students aren’t rebelling against the Establishment, they’re ignoring it. systematically compiled student opinions on teachers and courses might stimu- late greater undergraduate interest in the school, and improve the quality or a Grinneil education. Right now there is no really good method to measure the quality or teaching at Grinneii. A new student setting up his schedule has only two sources irom which to judge. First, he can look up iaculty degrees, alma maters and publication records in various school journals, all or which tiequently mean nothing as tar as teaching ability is concerned. Second, he can ask somebody else. Since iaculty members understandably reiuse to evaluate their peers in iront ot undergraduates, students usually end up polling each other. This is potentially more successiul, because most Older Grinnell Students have an idea of who is good or bad. The probem is that many upperclassmen are unable to back up their evaluations, When asked for his opinion the typical upper- ciassmall turns rUmDi'vanger‘ concerning professors outside of his direct contact. He cites anecdotes irom the campus grapevine which are oiten passed around more ior their humor than their validity. When occasionally a dose or grudge nursing or personal bias is thrown in, the freshman is better Off knowing nothing at Elli The solution might already have been found at schools such as Harvard and Berkeley. Students publish their own guides to Courses and teachers. Publications are based on question naires filled out contidentially during the previous semester in each of the courses listed. The answers are then evaluated and tabulated at Berkeley, by graduate students in the respective tle- partments, and at Harvard by the editors oi “Tile Crimsun.” Thus, the comments DI one or two soured students do not color a com~ posile picture, Most important, however, is the value or such a system for orderly student criticism. There is no reason why students may not bring to public attention the proiessor so ill-prepared he con» stantly brushes oli questions, the protessor who never hands back tests or papers, or the one whu year atter year reads his lecture notes In a mumbling monotone. Conversely, why not applaud the good teacher and explain the nature oi his contributions? Although student opinion is oiten held in disrepute as unthink» ing extremism, there is in fact no reason to believe the student cannot be a iatrminded judge. Further, when he passes rumors outside or class he is judging. When one section oi a course over- ilows, and another is barren. this evinces a student Judgment. Therefore, since such evaluations are being made, why not make explicit the reasons ior them in a student pamphlet such as Hap vard’s “Confidential Guide ID Courses?” Hopeiully, teaching at Grinnetl might improve. Annual ’ -. Factory Sale duckets Gloves Thousands of Items 733 Broad Street Over The Tracks and Across from the Lumber Company SCARLET AND BLACK Friday. Iopfembur l. Enro Munsingwear Jerks Puri’ran British S’rerling Jan’rzen Jockey Lee Jade Eas’r Wembley Farah Champ Arrow Boh Reimer Clot” Grinnell’s Finest Welcome G rinnellians! Come See Us for GIFTS - UNUSUAL QUALITY JEWELRY SOUND DIAMOND VALUES sin Wrapping "No Charge" JOSEPH'S JEWELRY STORE 819 - 49h Ave. — Grinnell FULBRIGHTS The competition tor United States Government grants ior graduate study or research, or tor study and protessional tram- ing in the creative anti per» tor-ming arts abroad in 1968-69, is hearing a close. Tile awards are available under the FillbrlghtrHays Act as part or the educational and cultural exchange program or the US. Department or State. The program, administered by the Institute of international Education, is intended to in- crease m u tu al understanding between the people or the United States and other coun- tries, and provides more than 800 grants ior study in 52 coun» tries. Application Iorms and intor— mation iDr students at Gl'iiinell may be obtained irom the cam» pus Fulbright adviser, Mr. Steiner. ' UNCLE SAM'S CLUB NEEDS YOU! 5i led tor the good lite and pertect for any ocycasion . . . these one casuals by Sehago-Mcc will give you the ultimate in comfort and long wean Join the millions of young wattle" who have dis- covered ihe quality difference in Sebagos. Come in isdsy and see icr yourself. ARNOLD'S SHOES