經濟學(一) (Principles of Microeconomics)
3:00 pm ~ 5:00 pm, Monday, Jan.9, 2012
Open books/notes exam (excluding texts written in Chinese). Absolutely no talking nor borrowing items during exams.,可使用自己的資料(中文課本除外)、字典或翻譯機。行動電話若響起,該生扣十分、以強調基本禮貌。務必工整依序作答。題目較多,目的在於測試是否有平日閱讀英文資料之習慣。3:50 pm後,不可使用字典或翻譯機。題目較多,防止伏案補眠、速讀課本瞎找答案、左顧右盼。Watch your time and have fun! Total: 118 points
Part One: 30 Multiple choice questions. [By multiple choice in an English-speaking academic environment, we mean that you must choose the most appropriate one from 4 alternatives. 依慣例,答錯不倒扣!] 90 points
1. A bakery shop suddenly raised all prices by 15%, it would soon have a large drop in bakery goods sold. However, if the electricity company raised the charge rate by 15%, it would only have a small decrease in the amount of electricity sold. This sheds light on the importance of
(A) opportunity costs;
(B) sunk costs;
(C) production efficiency;
(D) market structure.
Ans: D. [p.289, text]
2. According to your textbook, which of the following is incorrect?
(A) The assumption of free entry and exit is very much needed in justifying price-taking;
(B) A perfectly competitive market must have many buyers and many sellers;
(C) Goods offered in a perfectly competitive market are largely the same;
(D) The assumption of having buyers and sellers well-informed is missing in the textbook’s definition of perfectly competitive markets.
Ans: A. [p.290, text; lecture 6]
3. If we carefully examine the first section of Ch.14, the definition of marginal revenue (or MR for short) is actually defined in the sense that
(A) MR := dTR/dq (where TR is total revenue and q stands for output level);
(B) MR at q = 4 is calculated by P(4 - 3);
(C) MR at q = 4 is calculated by P(5 - 4);
(D) MR measured while moving from q = 4 to q = 5 is calculated by P(5 - 4).
Ans: D. [p.291, table 1, text]
4. Suppose that your firm is in a perfectly competitive market (e.g., p.291). Then
(A) marginal revenue always equals average revenue whatever q > 0 is;
(B) average revenue always equals the price of good whatever q > 0 is;
(C) your rivals can affect your supply curve;
(D) changing your supply curve will influence the market demand.
Ans: B. [Since the price is determined by the market, changing your supply curve will only alter your output decision. From question 3, we see why (A) is incorrect.]
5. 一門選修課,只有15位同學。上課三週後,四位同學因故休學,學校仍然讓課程繼續。很多五金行,星期日不營業。The explanation has something to do with
(A) comparative advantage;
(B) sunk costs;
(C) marginal revenue equals marginal cost;
(D) fairness vs. equity.
Ans: B. [pp.297-8, text]
6. Think about a perfectly competitive market in the long run.
(A) Producers make positive profit if they have lower costs;
(B) The market demand curve is horizontal;
(C) The market supply curve is horizontal;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: C. [p.303, text]
7. [continued from question 6]
(A) Producers make zero accounting profits;
(B) Producers make positive (economic) profits;
(C)這可以解釋為何當今大學面臨退場機制的威脅;
(D)這可以解釋為何古代的傳統小農一直是窮困的。
*Ans: D. [zero (economic) profits yet positive accounting profits. See p.303, text.]
8. From Ch.1, we learned that the cost of something is what you give up to get it. Here
(A) opportunity costs are not considered;
(B) explicit costs are not considered;
(C) implicit costs are not considered;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: D. [pp.268-9, text]
9. Cynthia is teaching English (as a tutor) and making NTD40000 per month. She does not know how to drive, so she spent NTD8000 on taxi fares monthly. Before becoming a tutor, Cynthia was working at some language school near her home. That teaching job paid her NTD28000 monthly. She spent NTD2000 each month on buying small presents to create incentives for kids. The (economic) cost of her providing tutorial service is
(A) NTD34000 monthly;
(B) NTD32000 monthly;
(C) NTD8000 monthly;
(D) NTD36000 monthly.
Ans: A. [It is 8000 + (28000 - 2000) = 8000 + 26000 = 34000. See p.269, text]
10. [continued from question 9] From the view point of an accountant, Cynthia’s profit (by providing the tutorial service) is
(A) NTD6000 monthly;
(B) NTD32000 monthly;
(C) NTD4000 monthly;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: B. [It is 40000 - 8000 = 32000. See p.269, text]
11. [continued from question 9] From the view point of an economist, Cynthia’s profit (by providing the tutorial service) is
(A) NTD6000 monthly;
(B) NTD32000 monthly;
(C) NTD4000 monthly;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: A. [From question 9, we see that it is 40000 - 34000 = 6000. See p.269, text]
12. [continued from question 9] The opportunity cost of her providing tutorial service is
(A) NTD28000 monthly;
(B) NTD26000 monthly;
(C) NTD32000 monthly;
(D) NTD18000 monthly.
Ans: A. [It is 28000 - 2000 = 26000. Recall midterm exam.]
*13. [continued from question 9] Suppose that she is now asked by her ex boss to go back to that language school under the same condition as before. From the view point of an economist, Cynthia’s profit by working at that language school is
(A) NTD6000 monthly;
(B) NTD26000 monthly;
(C) NTD34000 monthly;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: D. [It is 28000 - 2000 - (40000 - 8000) = 28000 - 2000 - 32000 = -6000.]
14. Recall the relation between production function and total cost curve (as seen on p.272, text). If the graph of production function is 3x - y = 0 for all non-negative x and y, then, given input price as 6, the total cost curve on the y-C space must be
(A) C - y/2 = 0;
(B) C - 2y = 0;
(C) C - 18y = 0;
(D) C - 3y = 0.
Ans: B. [Note that y = f(x) = 3x, hence cost of producing y units is 6(y/3) = 2y.]
15. Recall lecture 5 and Ch.6. If the government imposes a unit tax as luxury tax on some good whose market supply is relatively not price-sensitive but market demand is relatively price-sensitive. Then
(A) the burden of tax falls largely on sellers;
(B) the burden of tax falls largely on buyers;
(C) the burden of tax falls equally on sellers and buyers;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: A. [p.130, text]
16. [continued from question 15] 如果政府對國產的高檔有機咖啡豆課徵量稅,
(A)高檔有機咖啡豆消費者抗議聲浪較高;
(B)高檔有機咖啡豆生產者抗議聲浪較高;
(C)一般咖啡豆進口者抗議聲浪較高;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: B. [Obvious]
17. 政府基於「以價制量」出發點,課徵從量稅,導致漲價。下列何種商品的消費族群,抗議聲浪將明顯較高?
(A) BMW cars;
(B) LV bags;
(C) tap water;
(D) admission to concerts.
Ans: C. [For tap water, the market supply is relatively price-sensitive but market demand is nearly vertical.]
18. (基本經濟社會時事題)行政院勞工委員會自101年1月1日起調整勞工基本工資為每小時x元,教育部於100年12月29日來函敬請各校配合調整工讀費給付標準為每小時x元起。會計室備註:校內工讀費、各專案預算數維持不變,請自行於預算額度內調整可執行之工讀時數。Here x is
(A) 105;
(B) 104;
(C) 103;
(D) None of the above.
Ans: C.
19. [continued from question 18] Hence, according to the government, the equilibrium wage rate, in the absence of government intervention, must be
(A) greater than x;
(B) less than x;
(C) equal to x;
(D) Need more information to answer it.
Ans: B. [Minimum wage is a floor price, which must be above the equilibrium price.]
20. 課本有一則賣雨傘的漫畫,其用意是在解釋
(A) Beautiful ladies usually pay more for umbrellas;
(B) Price is fixed at perfectly competitive markets;
(C) An increase in demand might increase the market price;
(D) A decrease in supply might increase the market price.
Ans: C. [p.85, text]
21. What is described in Ch.4 as “supply decreases and demand significantly increases, leading to a big increase in price”?
(A)氫氣;
(B)氦氣;
(C) balloon;
(D) ice cream.
Ans: B. [氦氣(Helium Gas). See p.83, text]
22. Let the market demand curve be given by P + 2Q = 6; the market supply curve be given by P - 5Q = 3. The total surplus is
(A) 9/14;
(B) 8/15;
(C) 7/11;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: A. [Solving P = 6 - 2Q and P = 3 + 5Q, we obtain Q* = 3/7, hence P* = 36/7. Total surplus is consumers’ surplus plus producers’ surplus, which is (6 - 3)(3/7)(1/2) = 9/14.]
23. [continued from question 22] Recall lecture 5. Suppose that a unit tax, $1, is imposed on sellers’ side. The market demand curve and supply curve become
(A) P + 2Q = 5 and P - 5Q = 3;
(B) P + 2Q = 7 and P - 5Q = 3;
(C) P + 2Q = 6 and P - 5Q = 4;
(D) P + 2Q = 6 and P - 5Q = 2.
Ans: C. [Trivial]
24. [continued from question 22] Recall lecture 5. Suppose that a unit tax, $1, is directly imposed on buyers’ side. (Buyers’ tax burden)/(sellers’ tax burden) is about
(A) 7:2;
(B) 5:7;
(C) 1:2;
(D) 2:5.
Ans: D. [In light of the equivalence result, we can simply work with question 23. From P + 2Q = 6 and P - 5Q = 4 we get P** = 38/7 and Q** = 2/7. Buyers’ tax burden is 38/7 - 36/7 = 2/7 while sellers’ tax burden is 1 - 2/7 = 5/7. Hence it is 2:5.]
25. Recall lecture 4. Let’s call D your demand curve for leisure; call S your supply curve of labor. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
(A) the link is that leisure hours plus working hours must be a constant;
(B) D must be downward-sloping;
(C) S may not be upward-sloping;
(D) D becomes upward-sloping after P > Po if and only if S becomes downward-sloping after P > Po.
Ans: B. [Recall lectures]
26. (靈活思考題) 假設你(妳)五年後在某財經雜誌寫互動式專欄。讀者來信內容如下:「我是一個32歲的女人,5年前搬到義大利。在這裡,30多歲的單身男性簡直是鳳毛麟角。我該繼續留在義大利呢,還是回國去?」受過經濟學訓練的你(妳),回應:
(A) Are you hitting on me?
(B) You have to stay there to balance the trade;
(C)請回到人口統計上有更多合格單身漢的地方吧;
(D)存錢變性才是最適解。
Ans: C. [Key is sunk costs. Source: 親愛的臥底經濟學家:從FACEBOOK到劈腿,150個生活難題爆笑拆解。原文作者:Tim Harford;譯者:尤傳莉]
Questions 27 ~ 30係為減輕『全面強制點名制度之副作用 -- 如伏案補眠或放空神遊』而設計的問題。
27. On November 21, 2011, when the instructor illustrated how to obtain market supply curve and market demand curve thru the coin-tossing game,
(A) the instructor made a mistake in figuring out the market supply curve;
(B) the instructor made a mistake in figuring out the market demand curve;
(C) the instructor made a mistake in figuring out both curves;
(D) a female student who was asked to work on the chalkboard made a mistake.
Ans: B.
28. On November 28, 2011 the instructor explained that the idea of having 2n-1 in the coin-tossing game
(A) will be further explored in Math for Management (管數) next term;
(B) was only a trivial and random design;
(C) was just meant to be fair to participants;
(D) None of the above.
Ans: A.
29. On Dec.26, 2011 the instructor mentioned an old academic joke about missing an exam.
(A) Three students knew which tire became a flat tire;
(B) The professor did not allow three students to take the make-up exam;
(C) The professor eventually failed those three students;
(D) Three students claimed that they were stuck by the road while returning from Kenting.
Ans: C.
30. The instructor mentioned his former professor, John Pomery, by saying that
(A) the web site Ratemyprofessors.com brings justice to the educational system;
(B) Professor Pomery was a terrible professor to him;
(C) many users in the web site Ratemyprofessors.com made very favorable comments on him.
(D) many users in the web site Ratemyprofessors.com made very bad comments on him.
Ans: D. [如果有同學抱怨自己認真到課,卻學不到東西,我們可以調閱試卷,看看 questions 27~30 答對幾題。]
Part Two: Four analytical questions. [注意字體工整、邏輯順暢與不要出現錯別字或注音(與火星文)!如果字跡難以辨認,視同未答。畫蛇添足、答非所問、不知所云、自曝其短,將不利得分。] 28 points
31. An economic agent, called A, has 10 hours to be spent on producing goods X and Y under linear (or fixed rate) technologies specified as follows. Spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦10, on the production of X can bring him 2a units of X (or expressed by x = 2a); spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦10, on producing Y can yield a/2 units of Y (i.e., y = a/2). Another economic agent, called B, has 20 hours to be spent on producing goods X and Y under linear (or fixed rate) technologies specified as follows. Spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦20, on the production of X can bring him a/2 units of X; spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦20, on producing Y can yield a units of Y.
(i) Carefully depict the PPF of A and the PPF of B. Must precisely spell out equations and label all intercepts.
(ii) Who has the absolute advantage in producing X? Briefly justify your choice.
(iii) Who has the comparative advantage in producing X? Justify briefly.
Ans:
In light of linear (or fixed rate) technologies, since a hours can produce 2a units of X, 1 unit of X requires (labor in the amount of) 0.5 hour. Similarly,a hours can produce a/2 units of Y, implying that 1 unit of Y requires (labor in the amount of) 2 hours. By 0.5x + 2y = 10 we see that A’s production possibility frontier (or PPF for short) is x + 4y = 20.
Similarly for B, since a hours can produce a/2 units of X, 1 unit of X requires (labor in the amount of) 2 hours. Likewise,a hours can produce a units of Y, implying that 1 unit of Y requires (labor in the amount of) 1 hour. Hence, 2x + y= 20. That is, B’s PPF is 2x + y = 20.
For x = 1, A needs to spend 0.5 hour; B needs to spend 2 hours. Hence, A has the absolute advantage in producing X.
For A, the opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of X is 0.25 unit of Y. For B, the opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of X is 2 units of Y. Hence, A has the comparative advantage in producing X. [Intuition? A’s PPF is flatter than B’s PPF.]
(圖形略)
Remark: 這是期中考題目。有一位UB1林同學(學號末一碼為1)竟然只答道:”Too difficult.”
32. 對於需要在校內打工的同學而言,question 18提到的新聞,是利多?還是壞消息? Briefly comment on it.
Ans: Bad news. 校內打工意願提高,但雇用工讀生的預算固定,校內打工市場的失業現象將發生或惡化。
*33. “Suppose that both a floor price and a ceiling price are now imposed on some good. Before the intervention, the equilibrium price was 90. We also know that the both floor price and ceiling price are not binding. Also floor price > 90 > ceiling price. At best this example can be found in stock market.” Agree or disagree. Must briefly justify your choice.
Ans: Disagree! As seen in textbook, we call a floor price binding if it is above the equilibrium price; a ceiling price binding if it is below the equilibrium price. Yet, neither is binding, hence a contradiction. 股價之每日漲跌幅度限制,與floor price and ceiling price 無關。
34. (靈活思考題) 期末考前一週,陳x宇同學來找我,問道:「期中考題目又多又難,奇怪題目一堆。你難道不擔心學生會給你很差的期末教學評量?」Now think like an economist. Was she rational or irrational? And how would you respond should you be in my shoes?
Ans: Recall the solution to midterm exam. 學校不能承受學生大量流失、導致學費收入驟減之困境。「資訊不對稱」之限制下,體認教育市場現況,教師只能調分(curving),確保學生不致於大量流失。教師出題時,不可能知道同學填寫的期末教學意見調查,打完學期成績後,看到期末教學意見調查結果,也不可能知道那些同學填寫正面意見、那些同學填寫負面對意見。教師只有盡全力將資訊透明化 -- 例如:公布試題與解答、調分公式、期中期末表現與自己的期末教學意見調查結果。試想一誇張例子:如果知名作家兼名嘴李敖來教授一門他的專長課程,縱然全班15人勾結、給他負面評量,只要他的授課實況錄影在電視播出,社會只會覺得文藻學生有問題。在正派經營的學校,好老師不會威脅同學,明示或暗示同學美化期末教學意見調查。同理,好學生也不會威脅老師,明示或暗示藉由期末教學意見調查可報復老師。即使陳同學只是隨口說說,此類「雜訊」,既無意義,也不理性。教師將此行為公開即可(see above)。
[Inspired by UB1陳x宇同學]
Remark: 一位重修同學答道:
”只能說:「雖然我也覺得題目又多又難又奇怪,但是我教學評量打得還不錯。」.”
我給她零分,評語:答非所問。列入解答。
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Performance:
60 students
Average: 53 (for midterm: 64)
Highest-lowest: 94-40 (for midterm: 91-40)
調分公式:Max{40, x(1.3)} (for midterm: Max{40, (x+15)(1.4)})
Final grade information:Average: 63.3
Highest-lowest: 88-49
Failure ratio: 25% (14位係來自UB1)
(撰寫試題無著作權;歡迎全貌下載流傳)
Monday, January 16, 2012
Monday, December 19, 2011
千山我獨行?
前言
Complexity is something that must be handled with great caution. 我常想,有沒有可能,在所謂的民意(含全國家長聯盟?)聲浪下,立法院與教育部不斷以瑣碎規定,對學校進行評鑑、輔導與約束,立意良好,真正的報酬率呢?衍生的負面外部效果 (negative externalities)呢? 學校每幾年被評鑑一次,算是大動員。學校有行政系統與教學系統,尚有人力、物力。如果有樣學樣,學校對每位教師也來個每年評鑑一次,結果又將如何?學生要惜福,因為我們老師,並沒有「有樣學樣」。
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1:14 am, 12152011 sent
December 14, 2011
人事室主任 x教授如晤;
"Just where you stand in the conflict, there is your place.
Just where you think you are useless, hide not your face.
God placed you there for a purpose, whate'er it be;
Think He has chosen you for it; work loyally.
Gird on your armor! Be faithful! At toil or rest!
Whate'er it be, never doubting God's way is best.
Out in the fight or on picket, stand firm and true;
This is the work which your Master gives you to do."
~ Streams in the Desert
拜讀12132011收到的「教師評鑑分項評分表試評暨公聽會資料」,見到長達12頁的「xxxx學院教師評鑑分項評分表」,基於教育工作者之使命與個人專業,不得不陳述拙見。文責自負,雖不敢奢望,仍懇請全貌轉寄分享或公告,為感為禱。遵循學術倫理,目前此信副本同時傳送國際企業管理系(所)同仁,也呈送 董事長、校長與副校長。
容許我提供一些歷史背景。第一版(今年仍然採用的版本)的製作,經過專責小組多次會議討論,我也是小組成員之一。回想我在會議的多次發言與聽到的討論,年度自評,沒有詳細列出加分項目,既考慮教學單位之差異,也尊重教師個人特色與自我定位。基本精神在於自我列舉加分事蹟,並附佐證資料。每人一檔案夾(直接膠裝更佳,我自己就是如此做),既提醒每位教師自我檢核年度績效,也不會有人因三年總績效不佳,在2008年意圖造假2007年的研究成果。行政主管可以隨時調閱每位教師的教學、研究、服務自我揭露(self-revealing)資料。[我在美國任教三年,都是如此,在幾頁自評報告(備忘錄格式)末尾,系主任寫下他的意見,教師還有回應空間,然後資料送至院長室。楊濬中校長也曾經在逢甲採用類似作法,這些例子,已經是十多年前的。]當時的x校長曾經表示,三年一次的教師評鑑,就不會一樣,至少會納入校外學者的意見。我的粗淺了解是:後來,有些系教評會,未能認真把關:有些教師的自評分數高到破百:三年一次的教師評鑑,還是沿用一年一次的自評表格。個人認為,自評分數接近滿分,不是好事,因為成為鎂光燈焦點後,很少人經得起放大檢視,更沒聽說教師在轉換跑道時,新東家會採信老東家的高分考績。既然是自我揭露,所有自評資料(含佐證),當然可以在系上供全體教師瀏覽借鏡。因此,不知如何自我列舉加分者,可以經由瀏覽同儕資料而借鏡,不必大費周章,擬出一份奢望「放諸四海皆準」的表格,供他(她)們勾選。
律法與宗教,都能規範、導正人類的行為模式。兩者有一顯著差異,在於前者係立基於嚴謹且詳盡的規則,針對眾多的可能狀況,預先擬定因應措施或罰則,精神在於所謂的 contingency 與 justice。後者則強調樹立榜樣、鞏固與教化基本美德、相互扶持、廣泛凝聚力量與深入強化信念。兩者是互補關係,沒有太大衝突。如果在教意的大原則下,動員眾人,只是為了修改律法,而忘記正因為對「個人差異」之尊重,反而會持續增加律法的繁雜程度。如此為之,律法與宗教,就會有衝突。目前的「xxxx學院教師評鑑分項評分表」修正版(或其他版本),當然可以是執事者對所有教師的期望或要求。不同的執事者,可能在「對所有教師的期望或要求」上,會有所差異。人治之可貴、優秀學者之影響、良好校風與文化,道理即在這裡。目前看到的似乎是,動員所有教師,窮其力思考所有contingencies,還要化解目標的衝突,奢望完成一套律法形式的「xxxx學院教師評鑑分項評分表」,執事者不必提出對所有教師的期望或要求,只需依照律法逐條走,何來「人治」之說?遑論風行草偃之境界!
暫且不談律法、不提宗教,在少子化、退場機制議題正熱門的當下,「以企業化經營思維來辦學」之說,屢見不鮮。那麼容許我以大企業的管理為例。企業主管對員工的管理與考核,必然是分層負責與授權考核,不可能製作一份冗長的檢核表(check list),範圍包括製造、財務、行銷、物流、人資等部門的詳細績效,要求每位員工每年先逐項自我檢查。事實上,本校也沒有製作一份冗長的檢核表,範圍包括教務、學務、總務、研發與推廣、會計、人事、公關與所有教學單位的詳細績效,要求每位職員、職工每年先逐項自我檢查。更不可能,會有任何學校的董事會,製作一份冗長的檢核表,要求當下與未來的每位校長候選人先逐項自我檢查。多年前,遇到兩位校長,在校務會議中,會打斷某位習慣性離題發言的代表,理由約是:「不是我不讓你講十分鐘,只是我不能浪費100位與會者的1000分鐘。」這就是經濟學的機會成本 (opportunity cost),校長的明智果斷處理,讓資源不致於錯置。很多人都聽過,「不要驚動牠,等牠心甘情願唱歌」的比喻。我也常想,一件事情,我自己做,滿懷喜悅;要求大家一起做,也許會怨聲載道、無人受惠。分享一則小例子:因為學校要求全面點名,每次教大班必修課,我自己利用窗簾為背景,為每位同學拍大頭照,製作「有照片的座位表」。年復一年,我也注意耗費時間的逐年縮短與流程順暢度提升;同學整體配合拍照之態度,也與後來的上課情況有正相關。對此作法,我確實自我感覺極為良好,絕對不想為學生洗腳,也不想讓大多數老師跟進。也許有一天,有位教師自行設計十餘頁的 check list,為每位學生更客觀地評定學期成績,我會訝異但不會跟進。與此不同的是,如果有位教師要求同學集體設計十餘頁的 check list,每位學生自行填寫並附佐證後,才會得到該教師評定的學期成績,有誰能接受?曾經有一位同事,在系務會議強力主張,系裡應該擬一份制式推薦信,方便教師為每年申請留學的同學寫推薦函。即使冒著失去友誼之險,我還是直接回應:「親自撰打推薦信,本來就是教師的基本職責與能力。有人不會寫,我個人願意提供樣本。我們不應該為此而統一格式,限制其他人的發揮空間。」
延續「以企業化經營思維來辦學」之說,目前的「xxxx學院教師評鑑分項評分表」修正版(或其他版本),當然可以是執事者對所有教師的期望或要求,也有它的合理用途。例如,果真有不適任者,對人事聘任案結果如有異議,在自行舉證之時,該評分表即為理想的依據 (guideline)。學校對不適任者之輔導,也可以要求被輔導者依據該評分表舉證。這正是企業經營的「例外管理」,與要求全體教師每人每年逐項檢查並佐證,大異其趣。
我的預測是,不論最後修正版本為何,也不管修正與否,聰明又有實力的教師,拿高分不是問題。聰明但是沒有實力的教師,要取巧過關也不難。不聰明又沒有實力的教師,應該會得低分。請問:占大多數的其他教師,得每年填寫十餘頁自評表,準備且影印佐證資料,別忘記還有相關處室與教學單位之查核與認證工作,稱之為資源錯置與浪費的異象,應不為過。如果通過此一繁瑣的分項表,既成體制的一部份,當然會被攤在陽光下。只是,有意加入xx團隊的外校教師,會不會因此產生負面想法?依現代經濟學的術語,這也許是「負面訊號」。(取得證照與面試時穿著正式,是求職者釋放正面訊號之例。我曾指導一組專題,試圖探討為何本校的點名制度應該是、卻沒有被解讀為認真辦學的訊號。美國也有經濟學家針對前段大學教師不會自己強調有博士學位、後段大學教師多會自己強調博士學位,提出負面訊號之概念。)既然與機會成本、資源分配、訊號與負面訊號有關,對一位在經濟領域逾20年的教育工作者如我,豈能繼續保持沉默?
當第一版的分項評分表之主軸被大幅改變後,針對細項的項目增減與配分調整之討論,勢必淪為各方(勢力?)拉鋸戰,正如五人分兩枚金幣,不滿意者必過半。我真的沒有信心,執事者與同儕還願意回到基本面思考這一議題。既然不想加入拉鋸戰,進一步增加機會成本,我選擇不參加公聽會。
從921震災、911恐怖攻擊到幾次大海嘯之後,常聽人感嘆:「其實人是極為渺小的。」渺小的一粒砂,其實較易找到平靜。在每年最多感恩與省思的這個月份,願 上主賜智慧予眾人。
以馬內利
衛忠欣
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12:57 pm, 12162011人事室主任回函如下:
感謝您的賜教,教師評鑑表是一項持續修正的歷程,
方符合全面品質管理中,追求品質改善的精神,
所以來年仍可能會因需求而調整。
如蒙核可,您的來函將連結於人事室的網頁,
作為暮鼓晨鐘之用。
並懇請您一本初衷,隨時給於人事室各項業務指導。
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1:11 pm, 12162011 jsw 再致人事室主任:
感謝!連結於人事室的網頁,也許才能發揮拋磚引玉之效。所有可能的各方指正,對我更有再教育的助益。
Complexity is something that must be handled with great caution. 我常想,有沒有可能,在所謂的民意(含全國家長聯盟?)聲浪下,立法院與教育部不斷以瑣碎規定,對學校進行評鑑、輔導與約束,立意良好,真正的報酬率呢?衍生的負面外部效果 (negative externalities)呢? 學校每幾年被評鑑一次,算是大動員。學校有行政系統與教學系統,尚有人力、物力。如果有樣學樣,學校對每位教師也來個每年評鑑一次,結果又將如何?學生要惜福,因為我們老師,並沒有「有樣學樣」。
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1:14 am, 12152011 sent
December 14, 2011
人事室主任 x教授如晤;
"Just where you stand in the conflict, there is your place.
Just where you think you are useless, hide not your face.
God placed you there for a purpose, whate'er it be;
Think He has chosen you for it; work loyally.
Gird on your armor! Be faithful! At toil or rest!
Whate'er it be, never doubting God's way is best.
Out in the fight or on picket, stand firm and true;
This is the work which your Master gives you to do."
~ Streams in the Desert
拜讀12132011收到的「教師評鑑分項評分表試評暨公聽會資料」,見到長達12頁的「xxxx學院教師評鑑分項評分表」,基於教育工作者之使命與個人專業,不得不陳述拙見。文責自負,雖不敢奢望,仍懇請全貌轉寄分享或公告,為感為禱。遵循學術倫理,目前此信副本同時傳送國際企業管理系(所)同仁,也呈送 董事長、校長與副校長。
容許我提供一些歷史背景。第一版(今年仍然採用的版本)的製作,經過專責小組多次會議討論,我也是小組成員之一。回想我在會議的多次發言與聽到的討論,年度自評,沒有詳細列出加分項目,既考慮教學單位之差異,也尊重教師個人特色與自我定位。基本精神在於自我列舉加分事蹟,並附佐證資料。每人一檔案夾(直接膠裝更佳,我自己就是如此做),既提醒每位教師自我檢核年度績效,也不會有人因三年總績效不佳,在2008年意圖造假2007年的研究成果。行政主管可以隨時調閱每位教師的教學、研究、服務自我揭露(self-revealing)資料。[我在美國任教三年,都是如此,在幾頁自評報告(備忘錄格式)末尾,系主任寫下他的意見,教師還有回應空間,然後資料送至院長室。楊濬中校長也曾經在逢甲採用類似作法,這些例子,已經是十多年前的。]當時的x校長曾經表示,三年一次的教師評鑑,就不會一樣,至少會納入校外學者的意見。我的粗淺了解是:後來,有些系教評會,未能認真把關:有些教師的自評分數高到破百:三年一次的教師評鑑,還是沿用一年一次的自評表格。個人認為,自評分數接近滿分,不是好事,因為成為鎂光燈焦點後,很少人經得起放大檢視,更沒聽說教師在轉換跑道時,新東家會採信老東家的高分考績。既然是自我揭露,所有自評資料(含佐證),當然可以在系上供全體教師瀏覽借鏡。因此,不知如何自我列舉加分者,可以經由瀏覽同儕資料而借鏡,不必大費周章,擬出一份奢望「放諸四海皆準」的表格,供他(她)們勾選。
律法與宗教,都能規範、導正人類的行為模式。兩者有一顯著差異,在於前者係立基於嚴謹且詳盡的規則,針對眾多的可能狀況,預先擬定因應措施或罰則,精神在於所謂的 contingency 與 justice。後者則強調樹立榜樣、鞏固與教化基本美德、相互扶持、廣泛凝聚力量與深入強化信念。兩者是互補關係,沒有太大衝突。如果在教意的大原則下,動員眾人,只是為了修改律法,而忘記正因為對「個人差異」之尊重,反而會持續增加律法的繁雜程度。如此為之,律法與宗教,就會有衝突。目前的「xxxx學院教師評鑑分項評分表」修正版(或其他版本),當然可以是執事者對所有教師的期望或要求。不同的執事者,可能在「對所有教師的期望或要求」上,會有所差異。人治之可貴、優秀學者之影響、良好校風與文化,道理即在這裡。目前看到的似乎是,動員所有教師,窮其力思考所有contingencies,還要化解目標的衝突,奢望完成一套律法形式的「xxxx學院教師評鑑分項評分表」,執事者不必提出對所有教師的期望或要求,只需依照律法逐條走,何來「人治」之說?遑論風行草偃之境界!
暫且不談律法、不提宗教,在少子化、退場機制議題正熱門的當下,「以企業化經營思維來辦學」之說,屢見不鮮。那麼容許我以大企業的管理為例。企業主管對員工的管理與考核,必然是分層負責與授權考核,不可能製作一份冗長的檢核表(check list),範圍包括製造、財務、行銷、物流、人資等部門的詳細績效,要求每位員工每年先逐項自我檢查。事實上,本校也沒有製作一份冗長的檢核表,範圍包括教務、學務、總務、研發與推廣、會計、人事、公關與所有教學單位的詳細績效,要求每位職員、職工每年先逐項自我檢查。更不可能,會有任何學校的董事會,製作一份冗長的檢核表,要求當下與未來的每位校長候選人先逐項自我檢查。多年前,遇到兩位校長,在校務會議中,會打斷某位習慣性離題發言的代表,理由約是:「不是我不讓你講十分鐘,只是我不能浪費100位與會者的1000分鐘。」這就是經濟學的機會成本 (opportunity cost),校長的明智果斷處理,讓資源不致於錯置。很多人都聽過,「不要驚動牠,等牠心甘情願唱歌」的比喻。我也常想,一件事情,我自己做,滿懷喜悅;要求大家一起做,也許會怨聲載道、無人受惠。分享一則小例子:因為學校要求全面點名,每次教大班必修課,我自己利用窗簾為背景,為每位同學拍大頭照,製作「有照片的座位表」。年復一年,我也注意耗費時間的逐年縮短與流程順暢度提升;同學整體配合拍照之態度,也與後來的上課情況有正相關。對此作法,我確實自我感覺極為良好,絕對不想為學生洗腳,也不想讓大多數老師跟進。也許有一天,有位教師自行設計十餘頁的 check list,為每位學生更客觀地評定學期成績,我會訝異但不會跟進。與此不同的是,如果有位教師要求同學集體設計十餘頁的 check list,每位學生自行填寫並附佐證後,才會得到該教師評定的學期成績,有誰能接受?曾經有一位同事,在系務會議強力主張,系裡應該擬一份制式推薦信,方便教師為每年申請留學的同學寫推薦函。即使冒著失去友誼之險,我還是直接回應:「親自撰打推薦信,本來就是教師的基本職責與能力。有人不會寫,我個人願意提供樣本。我們不應該為此而統一格式,限制其他人的發揮空間。」
延續「以企業化經營思維來辦學」之說,目前的「xxxx學院教師評鑑分項評分表」修正版(或其他版本),當然可以是執事者對所有教師的期望或要求,也有它的合理用途。例如,果真有不適任者,對人事聘任案結果如有異議,在自行舉證之時,該評分表即為理想的依據 (guideline)。學校對不適任者之輔導,也可以要求被輔導者依據該評分表舉證。這正是企業經營的「例外管理」,與要求全體教師每人每年逐項檢查並佐證,大異其趣。
我的預測是,不論最後修正版本為何,也不管修正與否,聰明又有實力的教師,拿高分不是問題。聰明但是沒有實力的教師,要取巧過關也不難。不聰明又沒有實力的教師,應該會得低分。請問:占大多數的其他教師,得每年填寫十餘頁自評表,準備且影印佐證資料,別忘記還有相關處室與教學單位之查核與認證工作,稱之為資源錯置與浪費的異象,應不為過。如果通過此一繁瑣的分項表,既成體制的一部份,當然會被攤在陽光下。只是,有意加入xx團隊的外校教師,會不會因此產生負面想法?依現代經濟學的術語,這也許是「負面訊號」。(取得證照與面試時穿著正式,是求職者釋放正面訊號之例。我曾指導一組專題,試圖探討為何本校的點名制度應該是、卻沒有被解讀為認真辦學的訊號。美國也有經濟學家針對前段大學教師不會自己強調有博士學位、後段大學教師多會自己強調博士學位,提出負面訊號之概念。)既然與機會成本、資源分配、訊號與負面訊號有關,對一位在經濟領域逾20年的教育工作者如我,豈能繼續保持沉默?
當第一版的分項評分表之主軸被大幅改變後,針對細項的項目增減與配分調整之討論,勢必淪為各方(勢力?)拉鋸戰,正如五人分兩枚金幣,不滿意者必過半。我真的沒有信心,執事者與同儕還願意回到基本面思考這一議題。既然不想加入拉鋸戰,進一步增加機會成本,我選擇不參加公聽會。
從921震災、911恐怖攻擊到幾次大海嘯之後,常聽人感嘆:「其實人是極為渺小的。」渺小的一粒砂,其實較易找到平靜。在每年最多感恩與省思的這個月份,願 上主賜智慧予眾人。
以馬內利
衛忠欣
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12:57 pm, 12162011人事室主任回函如下:
感謝您的賜教,教師評鑑表是一項持續修正的歷程,
方符合全面品質管理中,追求品質改善的精神,
所以來年仍可能會因需求而調整。
如蒙核可,您的來函將連結於人事室的網頁,
作為暮鼓晨鐘之用。
並懇請您一本初衷,隨時給於人事室各項業務指導。
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1:11 pm, 12162011 jsw 再致人事室主任:
感謝!連結於人事室的網頁,也許才能發揮拋磚引玉之效。所有可能的各方指正,對我更有再教育的助益。
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Detailed Solution to Midterm Examination (F2011 Micro Principles)
★★★ Detailed Solution to Midterm Examination ★★★
Fall 2011 Instructor: 衛忠欣 (Jong-Shin Wei)
經濟學(一) (Principles of Microeconomics) (07)342-6031 ext.6222
Dept. of Int’l Business Administration WUCL jsw12011958@gmail.com
3:00 pm ~ 4:20 pm, Monday, Nov. 7, 2011
Open books/notes exam (excluding texts written in Chinese). Absolutely no talking nor borrowing items during exams.,可使用自己的資料(中文課本除外)、字典或翻譯機。行動電話若響起,該生扣十分、以強調基本禮貌。務必工整依序作答。題目較多,目的在於測試是否有平日閱讀英文資料之習慣。3:40 pm後,不可使用字典或翻譯機。Watch your time and have fun! Total: 105 points
Part One: 25 Multiple choice questions. [By multiple choice in an English-speaking academic environment, we mean that you must choose the most appropriate one from 4 alternatives. 依慣例,答錯不倒扣!] 75 points
1. An economic agent, called A, has 10 hours to be spent on producing goods X and Y under linear (or fixed rate) technologies specified as follows. Spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦10, on the production of X can bring him 2a units of X (or expressed by x = 2a); spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦10, on producing Y can yield a units of Y (i.e., y = a). A’s production possibility frontier (or PPF for short) is
(A) (a/2)x + ay = 10;
(B) x + 2y = 20;
(C) x + 2y = 10;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: B. [In light of linear (or fixed rate) technologies, since a hours can produce 2a units of X, 1 unit of X requires (labor in the amount of) 0.5 hour. Similarly,a hours can produce a units of Y, implying that 1 unit of Y requires (labor in the amount of) 1 hour. Hence, 0.5x + y = 10.]
2. [continued from question 1] Find the correct statement.
(A) The slope of A’s PPF is -2;
(B) The horizontal intercept of A’s PPF is 10;
(C) The vertical intercept of A’s PPF is 20;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: D. [From x + 2y = 20 we see that its slope is -0.5, its horizontal intercept is 20; its vertical intercept is 10.]
3. [continued from question 1] Since a/2 units of X are trade-off for a units of Y, we shall say that the opportunity cost of producing
(A) 1 unit of Y is 2 units of X;
(B) 1 unit of Y is 0.5;
(C) 1 unit of X is 0.5;
(D) 1 unit of X is 2 units of Y.
Ans: A. [It follows from 2a : a = 2 : 1 in light of that 2aunits of X are trade-off for a units of Y (due to the same time spent).]
4. [continued from question 1] We know that
(A) A has the absolute advantage in producing X;
(B) A has the absolute advantage in producing Y;
(C) A has the comparative advantage in producing Y;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: D. [Although one unit of good X costs A 0.5 hour; one unit of good Y costs A 1
Hour, we cannot say that A has the absolute advantage in producing good X. Recall
definitions of absolute advantage and comparative advantage given in Lecture 3.]
5. [continued from question 2] Suppose that A is the only producer in the economy which is entirely isolated from the rest of the world. The (domestic) relative price of good X (in terms of good Y) is
(A) 1;
(B) 2;
(C) 0.5;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: C. [Since 2aunits of X are trade-off for a units of Y, the relative price of good X is a/(2a) = 0.5.]
6. An economic agent, called B, has 20 hours to be spent on producing goods X and Y under linear (or fixed rate) technologies specified as follows. Spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦20, on the production of X can bring him a/2 units of X; spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦20, on producing Y can yield a/2 units of Y. B’s PPF is
(A) x + y = 10;
(B) x + y = 20;
(C) x + 2y = 20;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: A. [In light of linear (or fixed rate) technologies, since a hours can produce a/2 units of X, 1 unit of X requires (labor in the amount of) 2 hours. Likewise,a/2 hours can produce a units of Y, implying that 1 unit of Y requires (labor in the amount of) 2 hour. Hence, 2x + 2y = 20 or x + y = 10.]
7. [continued from question 6]
(A) The opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of Y is 2 units of X;
(B) The opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of Y is 0.5 unit of X;
(C) The opportunity cost of producing 2 units of Y is 2 units of X;
(D) None of the above is true.
Ans: C. [1 : 1 = 2 : 2]
8. [continued from questions 1 and 6] Regarding A and B,
(A) A has the absolute advantage in producing good X only;
(B) A has the absolute advantage in producing good Y only;
(C) B has the absolute advantage in producing both goods;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: D. [For x = 1, A needs to spend 0.5 hour; B needs to spend 2 hours. For y = 1, A needs to spend 1 hour; B needs to spend 2 hours. Hence, A has the absolute advantage in producing both goods X and Y.]
9. [continued from questions 1 and 6] Regarding A and B,
(A) Neither has the comparative advantage in producing X;
(B) A has the comparative advantage in producing X;
(C) B has the comparative advantage in producing X;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: B. [For A, the opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of X is 0.5 unit of Y. For B,
the opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of X is 1 unit of Y. Hence, A has the comparative advantage in producing X. Also, B has the comparative advantage in producing Y. Intuition? A’s PPF is flatter than B’s PPF.]
10. [continued from question 9] Suppose that both agree to specialize and trade. What might be the relative price of good X (with respect to good Y) in trading?
(A) 1/3;
(B) 1/2;
(C) 2/3;
(D) 1.
Ans: C. [Let A produce x = 20 and y = 0; let B produce y = 10 and x = 0. When the trade takes places, the relative price of good X will be somewhere between 0.5 and 1.]
11. [continued from questions 5 and 10] We see the intuition as follows. If the home country exports bananas to another country that produces no banana, then the relative price of banana at trade will be
(A) higher than the domestic relative price of banana (with no trade);
(B) lower than the domestic relative price of banana (with no trade);
(C) the same as the domestic relative price of banana (with no trade);
(D) different in both countries.
Ans: A. [Think about the change from 1/2 to 2/3.]
12. 期初,我徵求課堂義工兩位。有人說:「為什麼不讓同學輪值呢?同學在中小學階段,應該已經習慣如此。」以經濟學思維,讓同學輪值,與下列何者相似?
(A) 發放消費券;
(B) 發放老人年金;
(C) 不去監理所驗車;
(D) 生輔組的廣播。
Ans: D. [Efficiency and reducing externalities are the key issues.]
13. Anna Smith 堅持約會時 “Go Dutch.” Which of the following is consistent?
(A) She is trying to reduce sunk costs;
(B) She is trying to get more dates;
(C) She is trying to reduce the opportunity costs of dating;
(D) She is testing to see whether boys are sincere.
Ans: B. [Trivial]
14. Becky Dow 對這門課考前準備不足,既沒閱讀課本,也忘記帶至考場。She chose to turn in exam paper earlier so as to work on Tuesday’s exam. The key explanation is related to
(A) externalities;
(B) incentives;
(C) sunk costs;
(D)比例原則。
Ans: C. [Obvious]
15. 國內大學難以禁止同學穿著拖鞋進入校園,其原因與下列何者較無關?
(A) cost-benefit principle;
(B) incentive principle;
(C) enforcement is costly;
(D) Trade can make everyone better off.
Ans: D. [Trivial]
16. None of the following four job applicants could answer some question during interview. Which applicant deserves a better chance of being hired?
(A) 表示知道答案,但是不確定是不是面試官要的;
(B) 表示曾經知道答案,但是畢業就還給老師了;
(C) 表示不知道答案,因為老師沒教過;
(D) 表示不知道答案,請求跳至下一題。
Ans: D. [Trivial]
17. April Woo spent 3000 dollars on going to 85oC café last year just to attract a part-time worker’s attention. June Wang spent 500 dollars last month on going to a video store for similar reason. In the end, both April and June were disappointed. 如果單純由金錢支出來看,April 似乎比 June 聰明一些。其理由與下列何者較相關?
(A) Decision Pitfall (陷阱) 1 in Lecture 1;
(B) Decision Pitfall (陷阱) 2 in Lecture 1;
(C)學姐拾金要求報酬之新聞;
(D)新生盃球賽為何不排在週末。
Ans: A. [比例原則]
18. The textbook mentions an example of outsourcing in Chinese.
(A) It is about sending out spam mails;
(B) It is about playing computer game;
(C) It shows that the comparative advantage principle might fail;
(D) It demonstrates outsourcing differs from international trade.
Ans: B. [See p.59, text]
19. Recall questions 1 and 6. 依據教科書的介紹方式,如果沒有貿易,則
(A) A will produce 10 units of X;
(B) A will produce 20 units of X;
(C) A will produce 10 units of Y;
(D) B will produce 10 units of Y.
Ans: A. [See Figure 1 on p.51, text]
20. [continued from question 19] The reason for doing that is to better illustrate
(A) fairness;
(B) efficiency;
(C) simplicity in calculation;
(D) gains from trade.
Ans: D. [Notice the move in the upper-right (or NE) direction.]
21.王姓學長曾經連續兩年出現在英語初戀營的相見歡活動,告訴新生:「經濟學不用買課本啦」。This reminds us of
(A) p.37, text;
(B) Figure A-6 on p.47, text;
(C) Figure 2, on p.26, text;
(D) p.11, text.
Ans: B. [Key: omitted variable.]
*22. 假設學校將全班期末平均成績為50分的所有課程,查出教學評量並求出平均值。接著,將全班期末平均成績為51分的所有課程,查出教學評量並求出平均值。… 最後,將全班期末平均成績為99分的所有課程,查出教學評量並求出平均值。以x軸記錄全班期末平均成績;以y軸記錄對應的教學評量平均值。這樣得到的50個點,概括連線後,極可能不是「正斜率」走向。
(A) This highlights reverse causality;
(B) This suggests that tough grading is not the reason for getting poor rating in teaching evaluations;
(C) This reminds us of the danger of having missing variables;
(D) This shows why we need calculus.
Ans: C. [Midterm exam score is the missing variable.]
23. There are three projects, a, b, and c. Denote by B(i) the benefit of project i; C(i) the cost of project i, where i = a, b, and c. Assume B(a) = 100, B(b) = 100, B(c) = 80, C(a) = 80, C(b) = 90, and C(c) = 60.
(A) This shows that we shall choose the project with the lowest opportunity cost;
(B) The opportunity cost of choosing a exceeds the opportunity cost of choosing b;
(C) The opportunity cost of choosing b exceeds the opportunity cost of choosing c;
(D) According to text, three projects all have opportunity costs as 100.
Ans: D. [The opportunity cost of choosing any project is 20. The net benefit of choosing project a is 20; the net benefit of choosing project b is 10; the net benefit of choosing project c is 20.]
24. Linda was desperately attracted to Frank while she did not feel the same way toward George. George loved Linda a lot while Frank did not love Linda that much. Finally, Linda chose George and left Frank. Suppose that Linda’s decision is consistent with “maximizing net benefit” as well as “minimizing opportunity costs.” Using the notations introduced in question 23, we’d better assume:
(A) B(F) = 30, B(G) = 18, C(F) = 22, C(G) = 8;
(B) B(F) = 30, B(G) = 20, C(F) = 20, C(G) = 10;
(C) B(F) = 30, B(G) = 18, C(F) = 22, C(G) = 10;
(D) B(F) = 30, B(G) = 28, C(F) = 20, C(G) = 18.
Ans: A.
25. Suppose that producing 30 units of good X and 20 units of good Y is known to be inefficient for some economy. This economy’s PPF might be
(A) x + 4y = 110;
(B) x + 3y = 80;
(C) 3x + y = 100;
(D) 2x + 3y = 130.
Ans: D. [The point (30, 20) must sit below the PPF. Notice 2(30) + 3(20) = 120 < 130.]
Part Two: Analytical questions. [注意字體工整、邏輯順暢與不要出現錯別字或注音(與火星文)!如果字跡難以辨認,視同未答。畫蛇添足、答非所問、不知所云、自曝其短,將不利得分。] 30 points
26. For (i) and (ii), answer true or false. Must briefly justify your answer.
(i) If country A has the absolute advantage of producing good X (over country B), then the horizontal intercept of country A’s PPF must be greater than the horizontal intercept of country B’s PPF.
(ii) If the slope of country A’s PPF is greater than the slope of country B’s PPF, then A must have the comparative advantage of producing good X.
Ans:
(i) false! See question 8. Note that A has the absolute advantage in producing Y, yet the vertical intercept of x + 2y = 20 is the same as the vertical intercept of x + y = 10. If we modify the story by interchanging X and Y in questions 1 and 6, we will get 2x + y = 20 and x + y = 10.
(ii) true! See the connection between the slope of PPF and the opportunity cost.
27. Think like an economist! “Grade inflation” has received lots of attention in U.S.A. Scholars including economists argued that emphasis on teaching evaluations eventually pressured professors to give easy grades, causing grade inflation. However and with regret, this issue has not got enough attention in Taiwan.
(i) What will you do if you are the university president?
(ii) What will you do if you are a professor who has been very serious in teaching and grading?
Ans:
(i) It is well known that individual student’s grade should be kept confidential. Nevertheless, the average grade of any course taught by any faculty member can be made public! The president can require information such as average midterm exam score and average final grade be open to students, faculty members, and even parents. For years, in many universities, core courses at lower levels are curved in the sense that professors are asked to keep the average grade within some range. [Google the term grade inflation for more on this issue.]
(ii) Knowing that single-handedly changing the world is truly impossible, the professor must think carefully so as to avoid the so-called adverse selection problem. Keep up with the Jones! Do not be too tough on students at large even if the majority seems to deserve a failing grade; teach elective courses rather than required courses; try to reduce the number of students in elective courses (by inducing students to follow the self-selection pattern); incorporate this issue to exams as I am doing now, ….
28. 扼要寫出一個日常生活情境。再提出一項措施或行動,足以提升both efficiency and equity。 Warning: 取材僅限於日常生活情境
Ans: skipped.
(撰寫試題無著作權;歡迎全貌下載流傳)
Performance:
60 students
Adjusting rule: Max{(unadjusted score + 15)(1.4), 40}
Average: 64.0
Highest-lowest: 91-40
期中預警人數:8
Fall 2011 Instructor: 衛忠欣 (Jong-Shin Wei)
經濟學(一) (Principles of Microeconomics) (07)342-6031 ext.6222
Dept. of Int’l Business Administration WUCL jsw12011958@gmail.com
3:00 pm ~ 4:20 pm, Monday, Nov. 7, 2011
Open books/notes exam (excluding texts written in Chinese). Absolutely no talking nor borrowing items during exams.,可使用自己的資料(中文課本除外)、字典或翻譯機。行動電話若響起,該生扣十分、以強調基本禮貌。務必工整依序作答。題目較多,目的在於測試是否有平日閱讀英文資料之習慣。3:40 pm後,不可使用字典或翻譯機。Watch your time and have fun! Total: 105 points
Part One: 25 Multiple choice questions. [By multiple choice in an English-speaking academic environment, we mean that you must choose the most appropriate one from 4 alternatives. 依慣例,答錯不倒扣!] 75 points
1. An economic agent, called A, has 10 hours to be spent on producing goods X and Y under linear (or fixed rate) technologies specified as follows. Spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦10, on the production of X can bring him 2a units of X (or expressed by x = 2a); spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦10, on producing Y can yield a units of Y (i.e., y = a). A’s production possibility frontier (or PPF for short) is
(A) (a/2)x + ay = 10;
(B) x + 2y = 20;
(C) x + 2y = 10;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: B. [In light of linear (or fixed rate) technologies, since a hours can produce 2a units of X, 1 unit of X requires (labor in the amount of) 0.5 hour. Similarly,a hours can produce a units of Y, implying that 1 unit of Y requires (labor in the amount of) 1 hour. Hence, 0.5x + y = 10.]
2. [continued from question 1] Find the correct statement.
(A) The slope of A’s PPF is -2;
(B) The horizontal intercept of A’s PPF is 10;
(C) The vertical intercept of A’s PPF is 20;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: D. [From x + 2y = 20 we see that its slope is -0.5, its horizontal intercept is 20; its vertical intercept is 10.]
3. [continued from question 1] Since a/2 units of X are trade-off for a units of Y, we shall say that the opportunity cost of producing
(A) 1 unit of Y is 2 units of X;
(B) 1 unit of Y is 0.5;
(C) 1 unit of X is 0.5;
(D) 1 unit of X is 2 units of Y.
Ans: A. [It follows from 2a : a = 2 : 1 in light of that 2aunits of X are trade-off for a units of Y (due to the same time spent).]
4. [continued from question 1] We know that
(A) A has the absolute advantage in producing X;
(B) A has the absolute advantage in producing Y;
(C) A has the comparative advantage in producing Y;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: D. [Although one unit of good X costs A 0.5 hour; one unit of good Y costs A 1
Hour, we cannot say that A has the absolute advantage in producing good X. Recall
definitions of absolute advantage and comparative advantage given in Lecture 3.]
5. [continued from question 2] Suppose that A is the only producer in the economy which is entirely isolated from the rest of the world. The (domestic) relative price of good X (in terms of good Y) is
(A) 1;
(B) 2;
(C) 0.5;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: C. [Since 2aunits of X are trade-off for a units of Y, the relative price of good X is a/(2a) = 0.5.]
6. An economic agent, called B, has 20 hours to be spent on producing goods X and Y under linear (or fixed rate) technologies specified as follows. Spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦20, on the production of X can bring him a/2 units of X; spending a hours, with 0 ≦ a ≦20, on producing Y can yield a/2 units of Y. B’s PPF is
(A) x + y = 10;
(B) x + y = 20;
(C) x + 2y = 20;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: A. [In light of linear (or fixed rate) technologies, since a hours can produce a/2 units of X, 1 unit of X requires (labor in the amount of) 2 hours. Likewise,a/2 hours can produce a units of Y, implying that 1 unit of Y requires (labor in the amount of) 2 hour. Hence, 2x + 2y = 20 or x + y = 10.]
7. [continued from question 6]
(A) The opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of Y is 2 units of X;
(B) The opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of Y is 0.5 unit of X;
(C) The opportunity cost of producing 2 units of Y is 2 units of X;
(D) None of the above is true.
Ans: C. [1 : 1 = 2 : 2]
8. [continued from questions 1 and 6] Regarding A and B,
(A) A has the absolute advantage in producing good X only;
(B) A has the absolute advantage in producing good Y only;
(C) B has the absolute advantage in producing both goods;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: D. [For x = 1, A needs to spend 0.5 hour; B needs to spend 2 hours. For y = 1, A needs to spend 1 hour; B needs to spend 2 hours. Hence, A has the absolute advantage in producing both goods X and Y.]
9. [continued from questions 1 and 6] Regarding A and B,
(A) Neither has the comparative advantage in producing X;
(B) A has the comparative advantage in producing X;
(C) B has the comparative advantage in producing X;
(D) None of the above is correct.
Ans: B. [For A, the opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of X is 0.5 unit of Y. For B,
the opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of X is 1 unit of Y. Hence, A has the comparative advantage in producing X. Also, B has the comparative advantage in producing Y. Intuition? A’s PPF is flatter than B’s PPF.]
10. [continued from question 9] Suppose that both agree to specialize and trade. What might be the relative price of good X (with respect to good Y) in trading?
(A) 1/3;
(B) 1/2;
(C) 2/3;
(D) 1.
Ans: C. [Let A produce x = 20 and y = 0; let B produce y = 10 and x = 0. When the trade takes places, the relative price of good X will be somewhere between 0.5 and 1.]
11. [continued from questions 5 and 10] We see the intuition as follows. If the home country exports bananas to another country that produces no banana, then the relative price of banana at trade will be
(A) higher than the domestic relative price of banana (with no trade);
(B) lower than the domestic relative price of banana (with no trade);
(C) the same as the domestic relative price of banana (with no trade);
(D) different in both countries.
Ans: A. [Think about the change from 1/2 to 2/3.]
12. 期初,我徵求課堂義工兩位。有人說:「為什麼不讓同學輪值呢?同學在中小學階段,應該已經習慣如此。」以經濟學思維,讓同學輪值,與下列何者相似?
(A) 發放消費券;
(B) 發放老人年金;
(C) 不去監理所驗車;
(D) 生輔組的廣播。
Ans: D. [Efficiency and reducing externalities are the key issues.]
13. Anna Smith 堅持約會時 “Go Dutch.” Which of the following is consistent?
(A) She is trying to reduce sunk costs;
(B) She is trying to get more dates;
(C) She is trying to reduce the opportunity costs of dating;
(D) She is testing to see whether boys are sincere.
Ans: B. [Trivial]
14. Becky Dow 對這門課考前準備不足,既沒閱讀課本,也忘記帶至考場。She chose to turn in exam paper earlier so as to work on Tuesday’s exam. The key explanation is related to
(A) externalities;
(B) incentives;
(C) sunk costs;
(D)比例原則。
Ans: C. [Obvious]
15. 國內大學難以禁止同學穿著拖鞋進入校園,其原因與下列何者較無關?
(A) cost-benefit principle;
(B) incentive principle;
(C) enforcement is costly;
(D) Trade can make everyone better off.
Ans: D. [Trivial]
16. None of the following four job applicants could answer some question during interview. Which applicant deserves a better chance of being hired?
(A) 表示知道答案,但是不確定是不是面試官要的;
(B) 表示曾經知道答案,但是畢業就還給老師了;
(C) 表示不知道答案,因為老師沒教過;
(D) 表示不知道答案,請求跳至下一題。
Ans: D. [Trivial]
17. April Woo spent 3000 dollars on going to 85oC café last year just to attract a part-time worker’s attention. June Wang spent 500 dollars last month on going to a video store for similar reason. In the end, both April and June were disappointed. 如果單純由金錢支出來看,April 似乎比 June 聰明一些。其理由與下列何者較相關?
(A) Decision Pitfall (陷阱) 1 in Lecture 1;
(B) Decision Pitfall (陷阱) 2 in Lecture 1;
(C)學姐拾金要求報酬之新聞;
(D)新生盃球賽為何不排在週末。
Ans: A. [比例原則]
18. The textbook mentions an example of outsourcing in Chinese.
(A) It is about sending out spam mails;
(B) It is about playing computer game;
(C) It shows that the comparative advantage principle might fail;
(D) It demonstrates outsourcing differs from international trade.
Ans: B. [See p.59, text]
19. Recall questions 1 and 6. 依據教科書的介紹方式,如果沒有貿易,則
(A) A will produce 10 units of X;
(B) A will produce 20 units of X;
(C) A will produce 10 units of Y;
(D) B will produce 10 units of Y.
Ans: A. [See Figure 1 on p.51, text]
20. [continued from question 19] The reason for doing that is to better illustrate
(A) fairness;
(B) efficiency;
(C) simplicity in calculation;
(D) gains from trade.
Ans: D. [Notice the move in the upper-right (or NE) direction.]
21.王姓學長曾經連續兩年出現在英語初戀營的相見歡活動,告訴新生:「經濟學不用買課本啦」。This reminds us of
(A) p.37, text;
(B) Figure A-6 on p.47, text;
(C) Figure 2, on p.26, text;
(D) p.11, text.
Ans: B. [Key: omitted variable.]
*22. 假設學校將全班期末平均成績為50分的所有課程,查出教學評量並求出平均值。接著,將全班期末平均成績為51分的所有課程,查出教學評量並求出平均值。… 最後,將全班期末平均成績為99分的所有課程,查出教學評量並求出平均值。以x軸記錄全班期末平均成績;以y軸記錄對應的教學評量平均值。這樣得到的50個點,概括連線後,極可能不是「正斜率」走向。
(A) This highlights reverse causality;
(B) This suggests that tough grading is not the reason for getting poor rating in teaching evaluations;
(C) This reminds us of the danger of having missing variables;
(D) This shows why we need calculus.
Ans: C. [Midterm exam score is the missing variable.]
23. There are three projects, a, b, and c. Denote by B(i) the benefit of project i; C(i) the cost of project i, where i = a, b, and c. Assume B(a) = 100, B(b) = 100, B(c) = 80, C(a) = 80, C(b) = 90, and C(c) = 60.
(A) This shows that we shall choose the project with the lowest opportunity cost;
(B) The opportunity cost of choosing a exceeds the opportunity cost of choosing b;
(C) The opportunity cost of choosing b exceeds the opportunity cost of choosing c;
(D) According to text, three projects all have opportunity costs as 100.
Ans: D. [The opportunity cost of choosing any project is 20. The net benefit of choosing project a is 20; the net benefit of choosing project b is 10; the net benefit of choosing project c is 20.]
24. Linda was desperately attracted to Frank while she did not feel the same way toward George. George loved Linda a lot while Frank did not love Linda that much. Finally, Linda chose George and left Frank. Suppose that Linda’s decision is consistent with “maximizing net benefit” as well as “minimizing opportunity costs.” Using the notations introduced in question 23, we’d better assume:
(A) B(F) = 30, B(G) = 18, C(F) = 22, C(G) = 8;
(B) B(F) = 30, B(G) = 20, C(F) = 20, C(G) = 10;
(C) B(F) = 30, B(G) = 18, C(F) = 22, C(G) = 10;
(D) B(F) = 30, B(G) = 28, C(F) = 20, C(G) = 18.
Ans: A.
25. Suppose that producing 30 units of good X and 20 units of good Y is known to be inefficient for some economy. This economy’s PPF might be
(A) x + 4y = 110;
(B) x + 3y = 80;
(C) 3x + y = 100;
(D) 2x + 3y = 130.
Ans: D. [The point (30, 20) must sit below the PPF. Notice 2(30) + 3(20) = 120 < 130.]
Part Two: Analytical questions. [注意字體工整、邏輯順暢與不要出現錯別字或注音(與火星文)!如果字跡難以辨認,視同未答。畫蛇添足、答非所問、不知所云、自曝其短,將不利得分。] 30 points
26. For (i) and (ii), answer true or false. Must briefly justify your answer.
(i) If country A has the absolute advantage of producing good X (over country B), then the horizontal intercept of country A’s PPF must be greater than the horizontal intercept of country B’s PPF.
(ii) If the slope of country A’s PPF is greater than the slope of country B’s PPF, then A must have the comparative advantage of producing good X.
Ans:
(i) false! See question 8. Note that A has the absolute advantage in producing Y, yet the vertical intercept of x + 2y = 20 is the same as the vertical intercept of x + y = 10. If we modify the story by interchanging X and Y in questions 1 and 6, we will get 2x + y = 20 and x + y = 10.
(ii) true! See the connection between the slope of PPF and the opportunity cost.
27. Think like an economist! “Grade inflation” has received lots of attention in U.S.A. Scholars including economists argued that emphasis on teaching evaluations eventually pressured professors to give easy grades, causing grade inflation. However and with regret, this issue has not got enough attention in Taiwan.
(i) What will you do if you are the university president?
(ii) What will you do if you are a professor who has been very serious in teaching and grading?
Ans:
(i) It is well known that individual student’s grade should be kept confidential. Nevertheless, the average grade of any course taught by any faculty member can be made public! The president can require information such as average midterm exam score and average final grade be open to students, faculty members, and even parents. For years, in many universities, core courses at lower levels are curved in the sense that professors are asked to keep the average grade within some range. [Google the term grade inflation for more on this issue.]
(ii) Knowing that single-handedly changing the world is truly impossible, the professor must think carefully so as to avoid the so-called adverse selection problem. Keep up with the Jones! Do not be too tough on students at large even if the majority seems to deserve a failing grade; teach elective courses rather than required courses; try to reduce the number of students in elective courses (by inducing students to follow the self-selection pattern); incorporate this issue to exams as I am doing now, ….
28. 扼要寫出一個日常生活情境。再提出一項措施或行動,足以提升both efficiency and equity。 Warning: 取材僅限於日常生活情境
Ans: skipped.
(撰寫試題無著作權;歡迎全貌下載流傳)
Performance:
60 students
Adjusting rule: Max{(unadjusted score + 15)(1.4), 40}
Average: 64.0
Highest-lowest: 91-40
期中預警人數:8
Thursday, September 15, 2011
升格大學一點也不難 -- just ask for it! Ask ANYONE!
幾年前,我被一位大一班代嚇到。不是他(她)跆拳道上段,而是在開學前,跑來問我教科書資訊。不過,也只有這一次。(我在美國求學與教書時,開學前大家都是自行去校園書店買書。台灣學生真的比較強吧!)
這學期因為中秋放假與新生導航,兩門大一必修課,要在第二週才正式上課。一直不見任何關於教科書的提問。系辦公室其實已經有教材資訊,新生不常去系辦公室,可以理解。我想,這屆新生真強,似乎這學期會全班 all pass. 也許,被我形容為『白目、缺乏學術常識』的某些校外專家,其實是英明有水晶球的,因為新生根本不需要經濟學原理與微積分!
So I sent an open message via e-learning. I wrote: "Since no student has ever come to us and asked what the textbook is and how to obtain the text. Great class! Congratulations to all involved."
I got the following response:
"sorry teacher!!!!!!!!
我們不知道要怎麼問
想說等上課了老師應該會說
我有問學長姐關於買書的問題
學長姐說上課老師就會說了
所以就沒去問老師了!!!!!!!!"
學長姐說了算?真的滿容易耶!所以,學校想升格,只要校長問一問別的校長,一句 ok 我們就坐著等好消息嗎?大家轉寄分享此則好消息吧。
Saturday, June 18, 2011
How gossip is conceived and what makes the world full of cheap talk
Student A: 請問今天有任何刁難的題目嗎? 有聽學妹說有人從五樓坐電梯下來在哭....
Professor B: 刁難? I doubt. 我家孔雀魚死了一隻,妳能質疑馬總統:為何台灣不能養孔雀魚嗎?
Student A: 聽不懂... !? 我理解能力有點差!
Professor B: I see. Let me post this mini series on FB. As time goes by, at least some readers will comprehend.
原因?
是文化嗎?是追求浪漫?
祖父挾菜給孫女,接著說:是不是爺爺挾的菜,特別香啊?!
我們成長的環境,罕見有人敢說:香與不香,與挾菜人應該無關。爺爺挾菜,是愛心表現,也可能沾到爺爺的唾液,就這樣喲。
後續發展報告:
Student A: 我只是很直接,想知道有什麼樣刁難的題目,想多學習。Sorry.
Professor B: What I care about is the logical reasoning.
1. When C sees the post made by A, C might wonder who that 學妹 was and whether A was telling the truth (and whether that 學妹 was telling the truth, ...).
2. 「刁鑽」是否是哭泣的充分條件?還是必要條件?
3. 試想:『xx學校面試 考生淚灑電梯』如果成為某白目報紙標題,對認真的師生與優秀考生,傷害有多大!
Professor B: 刁難? I doubt. 我家孔雀魚死了一隻,妳能質疑馬總統:為何台灣不能養孔雀魚嗎?
Student A: 聽不懂... !? 我理解能力有點差!
Professor B: I see. Let me post this mini series on FB. As time goes by, at least some readers will comprehend.
原因?
是文化嗎?是追求浪漫?
祖父挾菜給孫女,接著說:是不是爺爺挾的菜,特別香啊?!
我們成長的環境,罕見有人敢說:香與不香,與挾菜人應該無關。爺爺挾菜,是愛心表現,也可能沾到爺爺的唾液,就這樣喲。
後續發展報告:
Student A: 我只是很直接,想知道有什麼樣刁難的題目,想多學習。Sorry.
Professor B: What I care about is the logical reasoning.
1. When C sees the post made by A, C might wonder who that 學妹 was and whether A was telling the truth (and whether that 學妹 was telling the truth, ...).
2. 「刁鑽」是否是哭泣的充分條件?還是必要條件?
3. 試想:『xx學校面試 考生淚灑電梯』如果成為某白目報紙標題,對認真的師生與優秀考生,傷害有多大!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
幼稚園大學 龍應台 (網路文章轉載 如有侵權 敬請賜告)
這是一班大三的學生:聰慧、用功、循規蹈矩,標準國立大學的好學生。
看完期末考卷,批完論文報告,我把總成績寄出,等著學生來找我:零分或是一百分,他們總得看著卷子的眉批,與我印證討論過之後,才能知道為什麼得了一百分或零分。假期過去了,新學期開始了,學期又結束了。
學生來找我聊天、吃消夜、談功課;就是沒有一個人問起成績的事。有一個成績應該很好的學生,因為論文的注腳寫得零亂散漫,我特意大幅度地降低了他的分數,希望他來質疑時告訴他一個教訓:作研究,注腳與正文一樣重要。
但是他也沒有來。等了半年之後,我忍不住了:“你們為什麼不跟教授討論成績?”學生面面相覷,很驚訝我問了這樣一個問題。
“我們怎麼敢呢?教授會很生氣,認為我們懷疑他的判斷力,不尊重他的權威。去討論、詢問,或爭執成績,等於是跟教授挑戰,我們怎麼敢?”那麼,假設教授打了個盹,加錯了分數呢?或是一個不小心,張冠李戴呢?或者,一個遊戲人間的老師真的用電扇吹考卷來決定成績呢?
逐漸的,我發覺在台灣當教授,真的可以“get away with murder”,可以做出極端荒唐過分的事而不致遭到學生的反抗,因為學生被灌輸了二十年“尊師重道”的觀念;他不敢。
有一天,一個淚眼汪汪的女學生半路上攔住了我的車子:“有個同學扭傷了腳踝,你能不能送我們下山搭車回台北?我攔了三輛路人的車,他們都不肯幫忙!”
好吧!於是淚眼汪汪的女學生扶來了另一個淚眼汪汪的人,一跛一跛的,進了我的車。下山只有幾分鐘的車程,可是車後兩個人拼命掉眼淚、吸鼻涕。受傷的哭,因為腳痛,想媽媽;沒受傷的也哭,因為她不知道如何處理這個情況。事實上,這個驚天動地的“情況”只需要兩通電話:第一通打給校醫,第二通打給計程車行,如此而已。
我很驚異地看著這兩個女生哭成一團。她們今年廿歲,正在接受高等的大學教育。她們獨立處事的能力,還不到五歲。
開始的時候,課堂上問學生問題得不到回音,我以為是學生聽力不夠,於是我把英語慢下來,一個字一個字說,再問,還是一堵死墻;於是改用國語,再問。我發覺,語言的問題其次,思想的貧乏才是癥結所在。
學生很用功。指定的小說或劇本上課前多半很盡責地讀完。他能把故事的情節大綱說得一清二楚,可是,當我開始問“為什麼”的時候,他就瞠目以對——不知道,沒想過。
他可以讀十篇愛倫坡的謀殺小說,每一篇都讀情,但不能夠綜觀十篇整理出一個連貫的脈絡來。他可以了解蘇格拉底為什麼拒絕逃獄,也明白梭羅為什麼拒絕出獄,但這兩個事件之間有怎樣的關係;他不知道。他可以說出詩人艾略特對藝術獨創與模倣的理論,但是要他對王三慶的倣畫事件發表意見——他不知道,他沒有意見,他沒學過,老師沒教過,課本裏沒有。
我愛惜我的學生;像努力迎取陽光的黃色向日葵,他們聰慧、純潔、奮發,對老師尤其一片真情。但是,他們也是典型的中國學生:缺乏獨立自主的個性,盲目地服從權威,更嚴重的,他們沒有——完全沒有——獨立思考的能力。
錯在學生嗎?
當然不是。學生是一坯混沌的黏土,在教育者的手中搓揉成型。從小學到大專聯考這個漫長過程中的種種問題,暫且不談,讓我們看看這些“不敢”、“淚眼汪汪”、“沒有意見”的大學生正在接受什麼樣的高等教育。廿歲的人表現出五歲的心智,往往是因為辦教育的人對學生採取一種“抱著走”的育嬰方式。常常會聽到一些大學校長說,“我把學生當自己的兒女看待”,一派慈祥。他也真做得像個嚴父慈母:規定學生不許穿拖鞋在校內行走,上課不許遲到,周會時要正襟危坐,睡眠要足八小時,熄燈前要洗澡如廁,清晨六點必須起床作操,講話時不許口含食物,夏天不可穿短褲上課,看電影有害學業,看電視有傷眼睛,吃飯之前要洗手,等等等。
我一直以為大學校長是高瞻遠矚,指導學術與教育大方向的決策人,而不是管饅頭稀飯的保姆,但這也暫且不提。這一類型的教育者的用心,毋庸置疑,當然是善意的,問題是,我們論“事”的時候,用心如何根本不重要,重要的是實際的後果, 而教育的後果何其嚴重! 這種喂哺式、育嬰式的大學教育剛好吻合心理學家Levy早在一九四三年給所謂“過度保護”(Overprotection)所作的詮釋:第一,給予過多的接觸——“有任何問題,隨時來找我” ;第二,禁止他獨立自主——“你不許……”;第三,將他“嬰兒化”——“乖,早睡早起”;第四,把自己的價值取向加諸其身——“你聽我的……”。在這種過度呵護的幼稚教育下成長的大學生,遇事時,除了“淚眼汪汪”之外又能做什麼呢?
教育者或許會說:這些學生如果進大學以前,就已經學好自治自律的話,我就不必要如此提之攜之,喂之哺之;就是因為基礎教育沒教好,所以我辦大學的人不得不教。雖然是亡羊補牢,總比不教好。
聽起來有理。其實是個因噎廢食的邏輯。這個學生之所以在小、中學十二年間沒有學會自治自律, 就是因為他們一直接受喂哺式的輔導, 那麼大學來繼續進行“育嬰”,這豈不是一個沒完沒了的惡性迴圈?把學生口裏的奶嘴拿掉,我們總要有個起點;大學不做,更待何時?再說,我們對大學教育的期許是什麼?教出一個言聽計從、中規中矩、不穿拖鞋短褲的學生,和教出一個自己會看情況、作決定、下判斷的學生——究竟哪一個比較重要?為了塑造出“聽話”、“規矩”的青年,而犧牲了他自主自決、自治自律的能力——這是我們大學教育的目的嗎?
在生活上,教育者採取懷裏“抱著走”的方式;在課業上,許多教書的人就有用鞭子“趕著走”的態度。就上課點名這件小事來說。以學生出席與否作為評分標準的老師很多,他們的論點是:學生都有惰性,今天我逼你讀書,日後你會感謝我。
這個說法也很動人,卻毫不合理。首先,我們不應該忘記,開一門課程最根本、最重要的目的在傳授知識,而不在鈴響與鈴響之間清數“少了幾頭牛”。照邏輯來說,如果一個學生不聽課就已經具有那門課所要傳授的知識,並且能夠以考試或其他方式證明他的程度,那麼他就沒有必要為了一個人頭點名的成規而來報到。歸根究底,這個“成規”當初之所以存在,只是為了幫助學生獲取這一門知識——讓我們在同一時刻同一地點去聽同一個人有系統的講——但是,一個學生,不論原因為何,已經擁有那個知識,那麼要他來作充數的形式就是舍本逐末,也是為師者見林不見樹的錯誤。
反過來說,一個學生沒有那門知識卻一再缺課,教授當然要淘汰他,但淘汰的理由應該是:你沒有得到知識;而不是:你點名未到。上課出席率與知識吸取量並沒有因果或正比的關係。
為師者“嚴”,我絕對贊同;愈嚴愈好。但是那份“嚴”與“逼”必須在實質的知識上,不在僵化的形式上。換句話說,教授可以用比較深奧的教材,出比較靈活的考題,指定比較繁重的作業,來逼使學生努力。但他如果尊重學生是一個有自主判斷能力的成人。他就沒有理由拿著鞭子把學生抓到教室裏來;充其量,作老師的只能嚴肅地說:上不上課在你,努力不努力也在你;你要學會如何為自己的行為擔負後果。從小學到高中,我們的學生已經在“鞭策”之下被動了十二年,如果最後的大學四年他們也在鞭子下長大——他們會長大嗎?畢了業之後又由誰來執鞭呢?
這種“趕著走”的鞭策教育貽害極深。學生之所以不能“舉一隅而以三隅反”,固然是因為在“抱著走”、“趕著走”的過程中從來沒有學過如何去思考,有一個實質上的困難使他即使想開始也不可能。
信仰鞭策教育的人不相信學生有自動好學的可能。於是設置了七七八八的課目,塞滿學生的時間。大一的學生,譬如說,一星期就有三十多個小時的課。大四的課少了,有些系就強迫學生修額外的學分,作為防範怠惰的措施。可是我面臨一個巨大的難題。文學是思想;每一小時的課,學生除了必須作兩小時的課前預讀之外,還得加上三小時課後的咀嚼與消化,否則,我付出的那一小時等於零。文學,也不是象牙塔裏的白日夢;學生必須將那一小時中所聽到的觀念帶到教室外面、校園外面,與廣大的宇宙和紛擾的現實世界銜接起來。否則,這個新的觀念也等於零。
這些,都需要時間與空間,可是學生辦不到。他們的課程安排得滿滿的,像媒婆趕喜酒一樣,一場接一場。他們的腦子像一幅潑了大紅大紫、沒有一寸留白的畫。如果怕學生怠情,我們應該增加學分時數強迫學生把“身體”放在教室裏呢,還是應該加深加重課程的內涵使學生不得不把整個“心”都投入?這是不是又牽涉到一個本末的問題?我們如果不給學生時間與空間去思考,我們又怎麼能教他們如何思考呢?在國外教書的那許多年,我踏出教室時常有生機盎然的感覺,因為在與學生激烈的反應與挑戰中,我也得到新的成長。在這裡,走出教室我常有被掏空的感覺,被針刺破了的氣球一般。學生像個無底的撲滿,把錢投進去、投進去、卻沒有什麼驚奇會跳出來,使我覺得富有。
說學生缺乏自治自律的精神,說他們沒有獨立思考的能力,我其實還沒有碰觸一個更基本的先決問題:我們的教育政策究竟希不希望教出獨立自主的學生來?答案若是否定的,這篇文章便毫無意義,可以燒掉。我是在假定我們的社會有意造就獨立自主的下一代的大前提之下寫這篇檢討。可是,如果這個假定的大前提是對的,為什麼我們在思想的訓練上,還是採取“騎著走”的方式?一方面,學生懦弱畏縮,成績有了失誤,不敢去找老師求證或討論。教授解錯了題目,不敢指出錯誤,大家混混過去。對課程安排不滿,不敢提出異議。不願意被強迫住宿,卻又不敢到訓導處去陳情。私底下批評無能的老師、社團的限制、課外活動的規則,或宿舍管理方式,可是又不敢光明正大地對當事機構表達意見。偶爾有人把批評寫成文章,要在校刊上發表——“不必試,會被壓下來!”學生很肯定地說,“反正沒有用,我畢了業就到美國去!”
另一方面,作老師的繼續努力強調“尊師重道”的傳統美德,連學生少鞠一個躬都當作對五千年中華文化與民族的背叛。“尊師重道”這四個字在歷史上的意義我不去談,在現代講究分工與專業的社會裏,卻很有商榷的餘地。“重道”毋庸置疑;對知識的肯定與尊重是教育之所以成為制度的基礎。但是“尊師”,如果指凡“師”必“尊”——只因為這個人在這個位子——那就是鼓勵盲目地服從權威。到處都有誤人子弟的師,有不學無術的師,更有招搖撞騙的師;我們有沒有權利要求學生“尊”無“道”的“師”?學生怯懦畏縮,是他們缺乏勇氣,還是我們迷信自己的權威,又缺乏自信,不敢給他們挑戰的機會?
我們若真心想培養出有能力“慎思、明辨、篤行”的下一代,為什麼又懼怕他因為“慎思、明辨”而對我們的權威造成威脅?台灣的大學在師資與設備上,比我自己的學生時代要進步得很多很多。中國學生的聰慧、誠懇,與一心想討好老師的認真努力,常常深刻地感動我。而學生資質愈好,這種幼稚化的大學教育就愈令我焦急難過。辦教育的人,或許本著善意與愛心,仍舊習慣地、固執地,把大學生當“自己的兒女”看待,假定他們是被動的、怠惰的、 依賴的。 這個假定或許沒錯,可是教育者應對的方式,不是毅然決然地“斷奶”,而是繼續地呵護與控制,造成一種可怕的惡性迴圈。令我憂心不已的是.這些“不敢”、“淚眼汪汪”、“沒有意見”、“不知道”的大學生,出了學校之後,會成為什麼樣的公民?什麼樣的社會中堅?他能明辨是非嗎?他敢生氣嗎?他會為自己爭取權利嗎?他知道什麼叫社會良知、道德勇氣嗎?恐怕答案全是否定的。
如果我們把眼光放遠,真心要把台灣治好,我們需要能思考、能判斷、有勇氣良知的公民;在位在權的人必須張開手臂來接受刺激與挑戰。如果我們真心要把教育治好,為這個民族培養出能思考、能判斷、有勇氣良知的下一代,那麼辦教育的、教書的,就不能迷信自己的權威;他也要禁得起來自學生的刺激與挑戰。把我們的大學生當“成人”看吧!給他們一個機會,不要牽著他的手。
Added by jsw: 每年都會有一類學生,成績接近中下。當他們不想做某件事,會很技巧地放話:「怎麼辦 ... 老師一定會生氣的,因為我沒有去執行那件事。我一定會被當掉!」然後一群攪局者會接手,吵吵鬧鬧,不知不覺地,學期結束了。他們終究沒執行那件事,不過大家也淡忘此事,更沒人有興趣認真分析究竟該不該執行。至於分數,很多人及格、也有人不及格。及格的人也許會嗆聲:「就知道老師不敢惹我這號實力派人物。」不及格的人也許會說:「我早就料到老師會整我。」老師可能 OS:「話... 都是你們在說!」 如果我是校長,會將這小插曲,與每月薪水通知,一併發送,附加一句: It all comes with your job. God speed.
看完期末考卷,批完論文報告,我把總成績寄出,等著學生來找我:零分或是一百分,他們總得看著卷子的眉批,與我印證討論過之後,才能知道為什麼得了一百分或零分。假期過去了,新學期開始了,學期又結束了。
學生來找我聊天、吃消夜、談功課;就是沒有一個人問起成績的事。有一個成績應該很好的學生,因為論文的注腳寫得零亂散漫,我特意大幅度地降低了他的分數,希望他來質疑時告訴他一個教訓:作研究,注腳與正文一樣重要。
但是他也沒有來。等了半年之後,我忍不住了:“你們為什麼不跟教授討論成績?”學生面面相覷,很驚訝我問了這樣一個問題。
“我們怎麼敢呢?教授會很生氣,認為我們懷疑他的判斷力,不尊重他的權威。去討論、詢問,或爭執成績,等於是跟教授挑戰,我們怎麼敢?”那麼,假設教授打了個盹,加錯了分數呢?或是一個不小心,張冠李戴呢?或者,一個遊戲人間的老師真的用電扇吹考卷來決定成績呢?
逐漸的,我發覺在台灣當教授,真的可以“get away with murder”,可以做出極端荒唐過分的事而不致遭到學生的反抗,因為學生被灌輸了二十年“尊師重道”的觀念;他不敢。
有一天,一個淚眼汪汪的女學生半路上攔住了我的車子:“有個同學扭傷了腳踝,你能不能送我們下山搭車回台北?我攔了三輛路人的車,他們都不肯幫忙!”
好吧!於是淚眼汪汪的女學生扶來了另一個淚眼汪汪的人,一跛一跛的,進了我的車。下山只有幾分鐘的車程,可是車後兩個人拼命掉眼淚、吸鼻涕。受傷的哭,因為腳痛,想媽媽;沒受傷的也哭,因為她不知道如何處理這個情況。事實上,這個驚天動地的“情況”只需要兩通電話:第一通打給校醫,第二通打給計程車行,如此而已。
我很驚異地看著這兩個女生哭成一團。她們今年廿歲,正在接受高等的大學教育。她們獨立處事的能力,還不到五歲。
開始的時候,課堂上問學生問題得不到回音,我以為是學生聽力不夠,於是我把英語慢下來,一個字一個字說,再問,還是一堵死墻;於是改用國語,再問。我發覺,語言的問題其次,思想的貧乏才是癥結所在。
學生很用功。指定的小說或劇本上課前多半很盡責地讀完。他能把故事的情節大綱說得一清二楚,可是,當我開始問“為什麼”的時候,他就瞠目以對——不知道,沒想過。
他可以讀十篇愛倫坡的謀殺小說,每一篇都讀情,但不能夠綜觀十篇整理出一個連貫的脈絡來。他可以了解蘇格拉底為什麼拒絕逃獄,也明白梭羅為什麼拒絕出獄,但這兩個事件之間有怎樣的關係;他不知道。他可以說出詩人艾略特對藝術獨創與模倣的理論,但是要他對王三慶的倣畫事件發表意見——他不知道,他沒有意見,他沒學過,老師沒教過,課本裏沒有。
我愛惜我的學生;像努力迎取陽光的黃色向日葵,他們聰慧、純潔、奮發,對老師尤其一片真情。但是,他們也是典型的中國學生:缺乏獨立自主的個性,盲目地服從權威,更嚴重的,他們沒有——完全沒有——獨立思考的能力。
錯在學生嗎?
當然不是。學生是一坯混沌的黏土,在教育者的手中搓揉成型。從小學到大專聯考這個漫長過程中的種種問題,暫且不談,讓我們看看這些“不敢”、“淚眼汪汪”、“沒有意見”的大學生正在接受什麼樣的高等教育。廿歲的人表現出五歲的心智,往往是因為辦教育的人對學生採取一種“抱著走”的育嬰方式。常常會聽到一些大學校長說,“我把學生當自己的兒女看待”,一派慈祥。他也真做得像個嚴父慈母:規定學生不許穿拖鞋在校內行走,上課不許遲到,周會時要正襟危坐,睡眠要足八小時,熄燈前要洗澡如廁,清晨六點必須起床作操,講話時不許口含食物,夏天不可穿短褲上課,看電影有害學業,看電視有傷眼睛,吃飯之前要洗手,等等等。
我一直以為大學校長是高瞻遠矚,指導學術與教育大方向的決策人,而不是管饅頭稀飯的保姆,但這也暫且不提。這一類型的教育者的用心,毋庸置疑,當然是善意的,問題是,我們論“事”的時候,用心如何根本不重要,重要的是實際的後果, 而教育的後果何其嚴重! 這種喂哺式、育嬰式的大學教育剛好吻合心理學家Levy早在一九四三年給所謂“過度保護”(Overprotection)所作的詮釋:第一,給予過多的接觸——“有任何問題,隨時來找我” ;第二,禁止他獨立自主——“你不許……”;第三,將他“嬰兒化”——“乖,早睡早起”;第四,把自己的價值取向加諸其身——“你聽我的……”。在這種過度呵護的幼稚教育下成長的大學生,遇事時,除了“淚眼汪汪”之外又能做什麼呢?
教育者或許會說:這些學生如果進大學以前,就已經學好自治自律的話,我就不必要如此提之攜之,喂之哺之;就是因為基礎教育沒教好,所以我辦大學的人不得不教。雖然是亡羊補牢,總比不教好。
聽起來有理。其實是個因噎廢食的邏輯。這個學生之所以在小、中學十二年間沒有學會自治自律, 就是因為他們一直接受喂哺式的輔導, 那麼大學來繼續進行“育嬰”,這豈不是一個沒完沒了的惡性迴圈?把學生口裏的奶嘴拿掉,我們總要有個起點;大學不做,更待何時?再說,我們對大學教育的期許是什麼?教出一個言聽計從、中規中矩、不穿拖鞋短褲的學生,和教出一個自己會看情況、作決定、下判斷的學生——究竟哪一個比較重要?為了塑造出“聽話”、“規矩”的青年,而犧牲了他自主自決、自治自律的能力——這是我們大學教育的目的嗎?
在生活上,教育者採取懷裏“抱著走”的方式;在課業上,許多教書的人就有用鞭子“趕著走”的態度。就上課點名這件小事來說。以學生出席與否作為評分標準的老師很多,他們的論點是:學生都有惰性,今天我逼你讀書,日後你會感謝我。
這個說法也很動人,卻毫不合理。首先,我們不應該忘記,開一門課程最根本、最重要的目的在傳授知識,而不在鈴響與鈴響之間清數“少了幾頭牛”。照邏輯來說,如果一個學生不聽課就已經具有那門課所要傳授的知識,並且能夠以考試或其他方式證明他的程度,那麼他就沒有必要為了一個人頭點名的成規而來報到。歸根究底,這個“成規”當初之所以存在,只是為了幫助學生獲取這一門知識——讓我們在同一時刻同一地點去聽同一個人有系統的講——但是,一個學生,不論原因為何,已經擁有那個知識,那麼要他來作充數的形式就是舍本逐末,也是為師者見林不見樹的錯誤。
反過來說,一個學生沒有那門知識卻一再缺課,教授當然要淘汰他,但淘汰的理由應該是:你沒有得到知識;而不是:你點名未到。上課出席率與知識吸取量並沒有因果或正比的關係。
為師者“嚴”,我絕對贊同;愈嚴愈好。但是那份“嚴”與“逼”必須在實質的知識上,不在僵化的形式上。換句話說,教授可以用比較深奧的教材,出比較靈活的考題,指定比較繁重的作業,來逼使學生努力。但他如果尊重學生是一個有自主判斷能力的成人。他就沒有理由拿著鞭子把學生抓到教室裏來;充其量,作老師的只能嚴肅地說:上不上課在你,努力不努力也在你;你要學會如何為自己的行為擔負後果。從小學到高中,我們的學生已經在“鞭策”之下被動了十二年,如果最後的大學四年他們也在鞭子下長大——他們會長大嗎?畢了業之後又由誰來執鞭呢?
這種“趕著走”的鞭策教育貽害極深。學生之所以不能“舉一隅而以三隅反”,固然是因為在“抱著走”、“趕著走”的過程中從來沒有學過如何去思考,有一個實質上的困難使他即使想開始也不可能。
信仰鞭策教育的人不相信學生有自動好學的可能。於是設置了七七八八的課目,塞滿學生的時間。大一的學生,譬如說,一星期就有三十多個小時的課。大四的課少了,有些系就強迫學生修額外的學分,作為防範怠惰的措施。可是我面臨一個巨大的難題。文學是思想;每一小時的課,學生除了必須作兩小時的課前預讀之外,還得加上三小時課後的咀嚼與消化,否則,我付出的那一小時等於零。文學,也不是象牙塔裏的白日夢;學生必須將那一小時中所聽到的觀念帶到教室外面、校園外面,與廣大的宇宙和紛擾的現實世界銜接起來。否則,這個新的觀念也等於零。
這些,都需要時間與空間,可是學生辦不到。他們的課程安排得滿滿的,像媒婆趕喜酒一樣,一場接一場。他們的腦子像一幅潑了大紅大紫、沒有一寸留白的畫。如果怕學生怠情,我們應該增加學分時數強迫學生把“身體”放在教室裏呢,還是應該加深加重課程的內涵使學生不得不把整個“心”都投入?這是不是又牽涉到一個本末的問題?我們如果不給學生時間與空間去思考,我們又怎麼能教他們如何思考呢?在國外教書的那許多年,我踏出教室時常有生機盎然的感覺,因為在與學生激烈的反應與挑戰中,我也得到新的成長。在這裡,走出教室我常有被掏空的感覺,被針刺破了的氣球一般。學生像個無底的撲滿,把錢投進去、投進去、卻沒有什麼驚奇會跳出來,使我覺得富有。
說學生缺乏自治自律的精神,說他們沒有獨立思考的能力,我其實還沒有碰觸一個更基本的先決問題:我們的教育政策究竟希不希望教出獨立自主的學生來?答案若是否定的,這篇文章便毫無意義,可以燒掉。我是在假定我們的社會有意造就獨立自主的下一代的大前提之下寫這篇檢討。可是,如果這個假定的大前提是對的,為什麼我們在思想的訓練上,還是採取“騎著走”的方式?一方面,學生懦弱畏縮,成績有了失誤,不敢去找老師求證或討論。教授解錯了題目,不敢指出錯誤,大家混混過去。對課程安排不滿,不敢提出異議。不願意被強迫住宿,卻又不敢到訓導處去陳情。私底下批評無能的老師、社團的限制、課外活動的規則,或宿舍管理方式,可是又不敢光明正大地對當事機構表達意見。偶爾有人把批評寫成文章,要在校刊上發表——“不必試,會被壓下來!”學生很肯定地說,“反正沒有用,我畢了業就到美國去!”
另一方面,作老師的繼續努力強調“尊師重道”的傳統美德,連學生少鞠一個躬都當作對五千年中華文化與民族的背叛。“尊師重道”這四個字在歷史上的意義我不去談,在現代講究分工與專業的社會裏,卻很有商榷的餘地。“重道”毋庸置疑;對知識的肯定與尊重是教育之所以成為制度的基礎。但是“尊師”,如果指凡“師”必“尊”——只因為這個人在這個位子——那就是鼓勵盲目地服從權威。到處都有誤人子弟的師,有不學無術的師,更有招搖撞騙的師;我們有沒有權利要求學生“尊”無“道”的“師”?學生怯懦畏縮,是他們缺乏勇氣,還是我們迷信自己的權威,又缺乏自信,不敢給他們挑戰的機會?
我們若真心想培養出有能力“慎思、明辨、篤行”的下一代,為什麼又懼怕他因為“慎思、明辨”而對我們的權威造成威脅?台灣的大學在師資與設備上,比我自己的學生時代要進步得很多很多。中國學生的聰慧、誠懇,與一心想討好老師的認真努力,常常深刻地感動我。而學生資質愈好,這種幼稚化的大學教育就愈令我焦急難過。辦教育的人,或許本著善意與愛心,仍舊習慣地、固執地,把大學生當“自己的兒女”看待,假定他們是被動的、怠惰的、 依賴的。 這個假定或許沒錯,可是教育者應對的方式,不是毅然決然地“斷奶”,而是繼續地呵護與控制,造成一種可怕的惡性迴圈。令我憂心不已的是.這些“不敢”、“淚眼汪汪”、“沒有意見”、“不知道”的大學生,出了學校之後,會成為什麼樣的公民?什麼樣的社會中堅?他能明辨是非嗎?他敢生氣嗎?他會為自己爭取權利嗎?他知道什麼叫社會良知、道德勇氣嗎?恐怕答案全是否定的。
如果我們把眼光放遠,真心要把台灣治好,我們需要能思考、能判斷、有勇氣良知的公民;在位在權的人必須張開手臂來接受刺激與挑戰。如果我們真心要把教育治好,為這個民族培養出能思考、能判斷、有勇氣良知的下一代,那麼辦教育的、教書的,就不能迷信自己的權威;他也要禁得起來自學生的刺激與挑戰。把我們的大學生當“成人”看吧!給他們一個機會,不要牽著他的手。
Added by jsw: 每年都會有一類學生,成績接近中下。當他們不想做某件事,會很技巧地放話:「怎麼辦 ... 老師一定會生氣的,因為我沒有去執行那件事。我一定會被當掉!」然後一群攪局者會接手,吵吵鬧鬧,不知不覺地,學期結束了。他們終究沒執行那件事,不過大家也淡忘此事,更沒人有興趣認真分析究竟該不該執行。至於分數,很多人及格、也有人不及格。及格的人也許會嗆聲:「就知道老師不敢惹我這號實力派人物。」不及格的人也許會說:「我早就料到老師會整我。」老師可能 OS:「話... 都是你們在說!」 如果我是校長,會將這小插曲,與每月薪水通知,一併發送,附加一句: It all comes with your job. God speed.
應該可以組團上節目 『大學生了沒』
我有一個小惡夢 ....
導師請班代轉達:簡述可以被記嘉獎的理由,意者從速
班代公告:有人需要記佳獎嗎? (可以拉高操性分數)
jsw註:嘉獎被寫成佳獎,別有意境。操行硬是要寫成操性,因為「性」真的氾濫嗎?
然後一些人搶著說:我要!
…
jsw註:誰敢說我們的學生都沒反應?誰敢說這個社會內需不足?
導師有些無奈,低調走莊子路線告訴班代:我請S轉達: 『誰有一千張千元鈔票,與我換一萬張百元鈔票? 』 結果 S 宣佈:『誰要一萬張百元鈔票? 』一堆人搶著說「要」。 上帝:信我者得永生。無數人回應:我要永生。相對少數人回應:我信祢。
愈戰愈勇的班代重新公告:有人需要記佳獎嗎? (可以拉高操性分數) 條件: 簡述可以被記嘉獎的理由,意者從速。
熱心的班代持續(為同學)問道:如果理由是,請假請太多,操性成績太低,可以報名嗎?平常學業成績有在進步,想要申請校外獎學金, 需要較高的操性成績,這樣子呢?
jsw註:「性」還真的一直戰勝「行」。
導師回應:假設一位長相愛國男向美女求婚,並說: Have my baby. Only with you I can have a beautiful baby. How would you think of the outcome?
這回,班代終於懂了。
jsw註:我曾經認識一人,竟然說,美女會答應長相愛國男的求婚,只要我不是那位美女就好。
Postscript:
善用部落格(blog),是可以默默觀察人的行為。一位已經被我刪除的未曾謀面女網友,時而夜晚發佈狀態:「好餓喲」。不到十分鐘,會有至少十幾則回文,諸如「妳想吃什麼?」;「一起加油,妳一定可以的」 ;「我也好餓喲」;「妳那麼正,不必節食啊」;「來台北,我請妳吃宵夜」.... 也有一些美食情報分享或回味。我猜測,她還是在飢餓中,或是已經悄悄吃起泡麵。不久,殺出一位有些不解風情的程咬金,寫道:「Just call your BF!」
Two sentences come to mind.
1. A cheap question very likely invites cheap answers.
2. 物以類聚
導師請班代轉達:簡述可以被記嘉獎的理由,意者從速
班代公告:有人需要記佳獎嗎? (可以拉高操性分數)
jsw註:嘉獎被寫成佳獎,別有意境。操行硬是要寫成操性,因為「性」真的氾濫嗎?
然後一些人搶著說:我要!
…
jsw註:誰敢說我們的學生都沒反應?誰敢說這個社會內需不足?
導師有些無奈,低調走莊子路線告訴班代:我請S轉達: 『誰有一千張千元鈔票,與我換一萬張百元鈔票? 』 結果 S 宣佈:『誰要一萬張百元鈔票? 』一堆人搶著說「要」。 上帝:信我者得永生。無數人回應:我要永生。相對少數人回應:我信祢。
愈戰愈勇的班代重新公告:有人需要記佳獎嗎? (可以拉高操性分數) 條件: 簡述可以被記嘉獎的理由,意者從速。
熱心的班代持續(為同學)問道:如果理由是,請假請太多,操性成績太低,可以報名嗎?平常學業成績有在進步,想要申請校外獎學金, 需要較高的操性成績,這樣子呢?
jsw註:「性」還真的一直戰勝「行」。
導師回應:假設一位長相愛國男向美女求婚,並說: Have my baby. Only with you I can have a beautiful baby. How would you think of the outcome?
這回,班代終於懂了。
jsw註:我曾經認識一人,竟然說,美女會答應長相愛國男的求婚,只要我不是那位美女就好。
Postscript:
善用部落格(blog),是可以默默觀察人的行為。一位已經被我刪除的未曾謀面女網友,時而夜晚發佈狀態:「好餓喲」。不到十分鐘,會有至少十幾則回文,諸如「妳想吃什麼?」;「一起加油,妳一定可以的」 ;「我也好餓喲」;「妳那麼正,不必節食啊」;「來台北,我請妳吃宵夜」.... 也有一些美食情報分享或回味。我猜測,她還是在飢餓中,或是已經悄悄吃起泡麵。不久,殺出一位有些不解風情的程咬金,寫道:「Just call your BF!」
Two sentences come to mind.
1. A cheap question very likely invites cheap answers.
2. 物以類聚
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
最近豔陽高照,井底之蛙,應該可由井口,看到完整圓形的天空。就有國際觀嗎?
又到期末,出考卷與打成績,一直是戒慎恐懼的大事。專業,不是靠一紙文憑、聘書來認定的。
同學們,是否也有同樣心態呢?我的悲觀,來源很多。剛出爐的99評鑑報告,有些論點,就讓我啼笑皆非。
『會計學與經濟學,各有6學分,皆是入學考試考科,對高職商科同學來說,似乎重複太多 ...』
(OS: 我實地去高職為實習教師課堂訪視過,也參加教育部委託雲科大辦理對考試科目的垂直整合會議。委員究竟是否知道高職是如何教會計與經貿概論嗎?高中、高職生都有英文、國文、體育與勞動教育,那麼,在大學是不是也可以免掉? )
『財務管理列為必修,而國際財管則是選修,但國際行銷、國際人資卻都是必修。建議考慮將策略管理列為必修,並且考慮將國際財管取代財管為必修。』
(OS: 所以,經濟學應被國際經濟學取代,會計學應被國際會計學取代,商事法應被國際商事法取代,統計學應被國際統計學取代。最好... 體育應被國際體育取代。我一直幻想,辦個策略管理與應用賽局 PK(國際)賽,決定這兩門課的直線前後順序。當然賽後,都得分別改名為國際策略管理與國際應用賽局。曾經有一笑話,張三如果改名為張國際,應該會在入學管道上,贏在起跑點!)
後記:因為無法睡到自然醒,索性熬夜熬到自然睡。所以,睡前習慣躺著看電視。有幾次轉到港片台,看到曾經小小著迷的楊思敏,就多看一會兒。有一部常常播放的香港三級片,一個壞胚,竟然取名為陳經濟。以前覺得奇怪,如今總算找到一個命名理由。
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