the invertebrate zoology debacle

[Thomas G. Lammers]

At 04:42 PM 4/1/04, Kirk Fitzhugh wrote:
>There has been a good contingent of folks on this and other lists who have
>voiced dismay at Texas A&M University at Galveston's move to make the
>Invertebrate Zoology course an elective for Marine Biology majors, and
>have asked for a contact at the University to make their opinion known.

I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but isn't it a bit difficult to evaluate
this move without knowing more about the Marine Biology curriculum, e.g.,
what other courses are required and which are electives?  After all, they
haven't CANCELLED the course -- ceased teaching the subject.  They just are
no longer forcing each and every student to take it.

It seems a bit presumptuous of a bunch of outsiders to go about telling a
faculty how to educate its students.  Would YOU want a bunch of internet
busybodies yammering at you and your colleagues about your professional and
pedagogical decisions?

Just a thought.