More Failproof Systems

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Here is the RKN para I referred to in my response to Don Quixote's Comment on Failproof Systems:

 http://gpsastry.blogspot.in/2012/09/failproof-systems.html


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In my college days, I had a professor of history, who said, 'It's a pity you have failed. If you didn't know the answer, you could have written any answer you knew; if you didn't know anything of the subject, you could just have copied the question paper. If you couldn't even do that, you could have told me and I would have given you the marks. '

"I didn't know that you were an examiner, sir'.

'What a pity, they ought not to keep it a secret. All our troubles are due to it. After all, you have listened to my lectures for a year and that's enough.'

I had another professor from Scotland who taught us English; an enlightened soul, who marked a minimum of 35 percent on all papers, and raised it on request. He was accessible to reason and even to bargaining. He would ask, 'What marks do you expect to get?'

'Sixty, sir'. He would pick up the answer paper, glance through it, shake his head ruefully. 'I have given you the minimum, of course, but I'll raise it to 40.'

'Sir, please make it to 52, I want at least a second class.'

'Alright, I hope your interest in Literature is genuine'.

'Undoubtedly.

Oh, but for this noble soul, I'd never have passed in English.

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Yes, here is the post dealing in more detail with my experience of doling out unprecedented grace marks to a highly deserving batch:

http://gpsastry.blogspot.in/2010/08/hnb-elasticity-gps-surface-tension.html






 

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