(no subject)

[mamculuna]

Grading student papers on "Metamorphosis" as representative of 20th century literature, I find that not one but two students pointed out that before modern science was developed, people couldn't change into insects.

Clearly I am not teaching well.

Comments

[usedtobeljs]

No, no. That sounds like it's all on them. ;-)

[hugs]

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

They do live in a parallel universe, it's true.

Hugs!

[lakrids404.livejournal.com]

But SCIENCE (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MadScientist) could

How old are yours student? inquiring mind wants to know.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

It's a community college class here, which is the first two year of the university, but the students are usually older. I suspect these are at least in their late 20's.

Wonder if the Mad Scientists could bring Kafka's nightmare to life...

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I want some examples.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Actually, another pointed out that 20th century medicine was very primitive, but if that happened to someone now, he'd be in the hospital having gene tests.

[altaego.livejournal.com]

It's funny at least. There are false beliefs (like that cutting taxes will raise federal revenues or that ending Medicare will improve health care) that have much more serious consequences.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I don't even want to think what they believe about politics and religion. This is South Carolina.

[zoe-1418.livejournal.com]

hee hee hee

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

The wonders of modern development.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

So youhave aliens in your class, do you? Who think that modern science allows the changing into insects, eh? :: shaking head ::

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

As below, perhaps their science education consisted of seeing "The Fly."

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

Does that make their world that much more awesome that they think science really could do it or that much more scary and that they spend a great deal of time worrying that they will wake up one morning bugified? I want essays illuminating their world views!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

If I get any, I promise to let you read them!

[royalbananafish.livejournal.com]

Yeah. You clearly need to throw some Aristophanes into the mix! ("The Bees" is what I had in mind...)

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Heh!

[royalbananafish.livejournal.com]

Wait, or maybe you need to show the original "The Fly" and teach a section on film noir?

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid they'd already seen the remake, and that's where they got their ideas about science.