Archive for March 23rd, 2011

Posted on March 23, 2011 - by admin

Requirements

By Richard England

On autumn nights, golden leaves cling to branches, the last glowing allies of the stars against wintry darkness. Behind a window spilling light, a professor hunches over a stack of papers, alternating between satisfaction and despair. Sometimes, it seems, students will never understand that what is required is to exceed what is required. The paradox beguiles him away from the essays, and he begins to write. Most professors would rather avoid grading a lot of first-year papers. But that, I tell myself, is a mistake. There is much to learn in contemplating their excellences and errors. Take for example, the matter of requirements: examine, consider, and extrapolate. (more…)