This Pass or Prepared? is based on jeanne's Alternate Statistics Syllabus Online.
Hardcopy Text.
Read also Fellman's suggestions for rediscovering mutuality. Pp. 145-178. And Hal Pepinsky's Peacemaking Primer Online.

1. How is "structure" being defined, when a student asks for "more structure?"

   One Plausible Answer

   When a student asks for what he/she must do to get an A, that is a request for highly constrained and ritualized performance which requires very little creative effort. Read the chapter. Take the test. A bright student, who has learned the school game can do it without much effort. So, for me, the student is asking to put forth minimal effort on ritualized performance with the result of a "reward" that will have the greatest payoff (an A) in the student's specific instrumental goals.

2. What are some of Fellman's suggestions for explaining a retreat to a rigid, ritualized perception of "the rules?"

   One Plausible Answer

   Fellman, p.154 and passim, suggests that empathy is needed to listen to the other in good faith. But that our fear of pain or failure causes us to reject that empathy. Notice the subtitle on Hal Pepinsky's Peacemaking Primer.

3. When you ask for "structure" which is constraining, it provides peace of mind, for you do not then need to make decisions. But what else goes with such "structure?"

   One Plausible Answer

   If you have a constraining structure you will not have to face the issue of what is actually learning for you, and what your own learning goals are. This alleviates the pain and fear of worrying that you might somehow measure up to what you want. Denial of your own need to succeed, and fear of failure in meeting your own need, interferes with your ability to empathize. That makes it hard to listen to the Other in good faith.

   What goes along with the constraining structure is other limitations that are not as welcome, such as rigidity in requiring attendance and on time performance. In refusing to give makeups. etc.

4. What does Hal Pepinsky suggest is the first step towards peacemaking?

   One Plausible Answer

   Hal says the first step towards peacemaking is to express the anger and frustration you are trying to deny, so we can get on to listening to each other in good faith.

5. Is the issue of the statistics syllabus important enough to matter?

   One Plausible Answer

   You bet. My anger and fear at such an attack caused me to write another syllabus instead of putting up more lecture notes. Now do you think it matters? jeanne