> Science has become unnecessarily hypercritical. WHen was the
> last time you read a nice review of your grant or your paper?
> Reviewers seem to feel the need to criticize SOMETHING, leading
> to unnecessary nitpicks. Unfortunately, they
> seem to be constitutively unable to say, This was a nice piece
> of work and should be published/funded/whatever. Along with
> this chronic negativity comes a lack of civility.
YES, I agree. Last June, three teacher, I and two college professors (all
of whom had had previously funded grants from this agency) turned in a
grant to an unnamed federal agency. The grant had been requested by this
agency. We wrote it to our best ability-and it was turned down with some
incredibily racists remarks re : Latinos. and their lack of achievement in
science, math and technology. Now I am NOT beating the drum for
Latinos, but I am beating the drum for reviewers who need to take their
reviews to heart, correctly spell them, and give a balanced review. Since
I reviewed for this same agency a long time ago--I am dismayed by the
hypercritical behavior of the reviewers, and the almost insolent
terminalogy that is used in the written reviews. YES, I can deal with
criticism, but it does not have to plunge a dagger into the heart and when
it is real. The reviewers hide behind anonymity--which is dangerous in
science.
Mary Ann Sesma
Mary Ann Sesma e mail
1621 Sunnyhill Drive msesma at bell.k12.ca.us (preferred)
Monterey Park, CA 91754 sesma at aol.com
phone; (213)261-5860
fax:(213)261-8692
