Re: Tutoring

[paul o johnson <pojhome@FLASH.NET>]

Stan Dodds wrote:

> The situation at Rice is similar, although a bit more limited. Option
> 1 is always available in all classes, and we are small enough that it
> is practical. Instead of option 2 we offer optional 'tutorial
> sessions' for beginning courses only, at scheduled times, led by a
> grad student or advanced undergrad. Option 3 does not exist, to the
> best of my knowledge. Option 4 is a possibility, but the university
> will pay for only a few hours per student per semester, and only in
> intro courses. After that the student is on his/her own.
>
> All of the tutoring services offered (Except option 1!) are paid for by
> the office of academic advising, using people the department finds. As
> Michael notes, finding good tutors is a perennial problem because there
> are not enough qualified individuals who want to do the work. It is
> further complicated for us because of affluent surroundings, where
> parents are willing to pay $30-$50/hour for high school homework
> help. Potential tutors obviously prefer that to $10/hour for a group
> session.

Stan,  When I was a graduate student in physics at the Institute in 19 ought
51, I was hired as a physics tutor by the athletic dept. The college did not
lower the academic standards for the football players, but they hired special
tutors for every knuckle dragger that needed help in physics. Seems like
times have changed a bit.

poj