RE: History of X-Rays

[knlambert@earthlink.net]

Group,

The HPS bylaws in Article II Objectives and Purposes state:

"The [HPS] is a professional organization dedicated to the 
development, DISSEMINATION, and application of both the 
scientific knowledge of, and the practical means for, radiation 
safety."  (emphasis added)

The proposed bylaws on the recent ballot state:

"The [HPS] is a professional organization whose mission is to 
promote the practice of radiation safety.  HPS activities include 
encouraging research in radiation science, developing standards, 
and DISSEMINATING radiation safety information."

So, the current bylaws (and whichever version of the objectives 
withstand the most recent poll) explicitly state that disseminating 
information is a priority for the HPS.  The HPS is its members.  
Therefore, HPS members on this list should be willing to assist 
students.  Not do their work, not write their paper, but provide 
information.  Maybe the information supplied would be to suggest 
that the students go to the library AND check out "The History and 
Impact of Radiology on the Health Professions" by Ray D. A. 
Chun. 

What is wrong with asking an expert?  In a classroom, the teacher 
IS the expert.  Would you discourage these students from asking 
their teacher questions?  Today research laboratories are built so 
as to encourage collaboration between researchers.  How is this 
different?  Would you disallow personal communications as a 
reference in scientific papers?  

Someone much wittier than me said that stealing ideas from one 
person is plagerism and stealing ideas from many people is 
research.  Asking experts is a time honored and widely accepted 
method of learning.  Discouraging this practice is sending the 
wrong message.

Kent Lambert, CHP
knlambert@earthlink.net

On 19 Jan 99, at 9:44, Weiner, Ruth wrote:

> Tell them to go to the library!! Throughout my whole career, even as a
> Congressional Fellow, I used to get this kind of "please do my homework
> for me" question and my redsponse (yes, I was a tough teacher) was, in
> effect, "do it yourself."  It's one thing to answer a specific question,
> and another to be asked to do the legwork.  Besides, it's poor pedagogy to
> let students avoid the hard work of finding the information sources in the
> first place. I know well that my point of view is unpopular.

knlambert@earthlink.net
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