NOTICE
I know that the tongues have started wagging.
The professors, who refuse to see how any of this could be their fault. Who will no doubt see this as an argument to boost their push for weeding out the college of the people they perceive as unworthy.
The other schools, who no doubt are rejoicing in the downfall of one of the most arrogant institutions of the people.
And this year’s bar candidates have no doubt started to feel the numbness brought about by fear and nervousness.
(I, for one, having another year before I need to worry, am instead focusing on the very very doable goal of 100% B 2009)
While of course the passing rate IS something to worry about, and while of course the College cannot and should not rest on its laurels, I highly doubt that pressuring this year’s bar candidates will in any way benefit them.
This is THEIR bar. THEIR future. THEIR four years of withstanding and surviving and rising above the insults, the unfairness, the favoritism, the politicking being held up to scrutiny.
Telling them that they bear the name of the institution that has produced some of the greatest men and women, leaders and teachers, living legends and martyrs, and some of the most evil minds this country has ever seen, will only add to the burden of knowing that their passing, or failing, the bar will judge adequacy with which they have spent the past four years of their lives.
And it won’t change matters at all.
Because I am confident that MY bar candidates, my blockmates, have already taken steps to address their perceived shortcomings for the bar, and they need no more admonishment from well-meaning (or not) people that they step up. I am confident that my other former batchmates have already addressed their inadequacies too.
Henceforth, notice is served on everyone that I will tolerate ONLY ENCOURAGEMENT for MY bar candidates, and NO PRESSURE. If I hear anyone breathe so much as a number close to 72.5, or 77, or 1 out of every 4, they will receive a tongue-lashing such as they have never received, from a person who is tired of seeing the punishment for the shortcomings of others meted out on the innocents.
There is no way pressure can help them at this point.
The time is past.
Perhaps what could have helped was not discussing a REALLY thick case for a month. Perhaps a greater study of the second book of the Revised Penal Code could have helped.
Perhaps not kicking out people who could’ve passed the bar could have helped. The 39 people who flunked nego can only look back now and say, it’s done. Retaken, done.
Perhaps scrutinizing the grades of people who have gotten straight 1s from the same prof (who happened to be a FAMILY member) could’ve helped. Cause obviously a professor who shows up for all of 3 classes cannot be presumed to have had adequate basis for giving a 1 to anyone except that there was an affiliation that could not be ignored.
Perhaps there could’ve been more profs like our persons prof and our civil procedure and evidence prof, who scared the bejeezus out of us, so much so that years later we can still remember their voices triggering a rise in our collective blood pressure. Or more of a certain crim one prof who could send us to drink as we pondered how heavy it felt to disappoint a truly kind a great professor. Or more of the professors who teach because they love to, who have either never gotten their pay from the College, or have spent it all on us.
Those things could have helped, without a doubt. But now the time has passed.
All we can do now is to help where we can and encourage where we can. And maybe, to remember that they are not just bar candidates who carry the name of the college, but they are sons and daughters, with parents who have bright hopes and desperate hopes for them. And there is no greater burden than that. Let’s not add to it.
To this year's bar candidates, I have nothing but full faith and confidence in you. Whichever way the wind will blow, you all will still have a reason to be proud of yourselves.
The professors, who refuse to see how any of this could be their fault. Who will no doubt see this as an argument to boost their push for weeding out the college of the people they perceive as unworthy.
The other schools, who no doubt are rejoicing in the downfall of one of the most arrogant institutions of the people.
And this year’s bar candidates have no doubt started to feel the numbness brought about by fear and nervousness.
(I, for one, having another year before I need to worry, am instead focusing on the very very doable goal of 100% B 2009)
While of course the passing rate IS something to worry about, and while of course the College cannot and should not rest on its laurels, I highly doubt that pressuring this year’s bar candidates will in any way benefit them.
This is THEIR bar. THEIR future. THEIR four years of withstanding and surviving and rising above the insults, the unfairness, the favoritism, the politicking being held up to scrutiny.
Telling them that they bear the name of the institution that has produced some of the greatest men and women, leaders and teachers, living legends and martyrs, and some of the most evil minds this country has ever seen, will only add to the burden of knowing that their passing, or failing, the bar will judge adequacy with which they have spent the past four years of their lives.
And it won’t change matters at all.
Because I am confident that MY bar candidates, my blockmates, have already taken steps to address their perceived shortcomings for the bar, and they need no more admonishment from well-meaning (or not) people that they step up. I am confident that my other former batchmates have already addressed their inadequacies too.
Henceforth, notice is served on everyone that I will tolerate ONLY ENCOURAGEMENT for MY bar candidates, and NO PRESSURE. If I hear anyone breathe so much as a number close to 72.5, or 77, or 1 out of every 4, they will receive a tongue-lashing such as they have never received, from a person who is tired of seeing the punishment for the shortcomings of others meted out on the innocents.
There is no way pressure can help them at this point.
The time is past.
Perhaps what could have helped was not discussing a REALLY thick case for a month. Perhaps a greater study of the second book of the Revised Penal Code could have helped.
Perhaps not kicking out people who could’ve passed the bar could have helped. The 39 people who flunked nego can only look back now and say, it’s done. Retaken, done.
Perhaps scrutinizing the grades of people who have gotten straight 1s from the same prof (who happened to be a FAMILY member) could’ve helped. Cause obviously a professor who shows up for all of 3 classes cannot be presumed to have had adequate basis for giving a 1 to anyone except that there was an affiliation that could not be ignored.
Perhaps there could’ve been more profs like our persons prof and our civil procedure and evidence prof, who scared the bejeezus out of us, so much so that years later we can still remember their voices triggering a rise in our collective blood pressure. Or more of a certain crim one prof who could send us to drink as we pondered how heavy it felt to disappoint a truly kind a great professor. Or more of the professors who teach because they love to, who have either never gotten their pay from the College, or have spent it all on us.
Those things could have helped, without a doubt. But now the time has passed.
All we can do now is to help where we can and encourage where we can. And maybe, to remember that they are not just bar candidates who carry the name of the college, but they are sons and daughters, with parents who have bright hopes and desperate hopes for them. And there is no greater burden than that. Let’s not add to it.
To this year's bar candidates, I have nothing but full faith and confidence in you. Whichever way the wind will blow, you all will still have a reason to be proud of yourselves.
posted by peach at 3:29 AM
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