Publication date:
16 October 2010Length of book:
144 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781442205666
Saints and Scamps has been widely acclaimed as one of the best academic ethics books in print. In its 25th anniversary edition, Steven M. Cahn has updated and expanded upon his critical look at the duties and responsibilities of college professors; presenting us with a masterfully decisive and learned probe into the ethical standards and practices of the academic world and bringing Saints and Scamps to a new generation. Cahn discusses every issue, from grades to degree requirements, from tenure to the ethics of teaching. For Cahn, being a professor is so much more than research and scholarship; it is also about being a good teacher and shepherding in the next generation of students. He shows us what makes a wonderful professor and what constitutes professorial malpractice, and he does so with a wit and charm that is both entertaining and convincing. This is not just a book for college professors, but a book that should be read by parents, students, school administrators, and anyone interested in what teachers do and how they should do it. In this new edition, Cahn continues to do what he has done so brilliantly in the past; he shows us the ethical guidelines that every professor should follow.
I fell in love with this book in 1988 and have re-read it often. I always view it as a brief retreat, as if returning to a friend who will give you advice that you know is good and true. Over the years I have made it my tradition to give this as a gift to new faculty, deans and Trustees. I am thrilled that it is now in the 25th anniversary edition. It will continue to grace the book collections of essential reading of my friends and colleagues. This is the book I wish I had when I started my academiccareer. In a cogent and well written manner, Dr. Cahn gets to the heart of our profession, reviewing our major responsibilities to our students, colleagues and society. His experience as a provost and professor provide numerous real-life challenges forthose of us who toil in the fields of academia. The simple truth is that we are engaged in a multifarious endeavor as we balance competing needs and agendas. Dr. Cahn gently, but with firm conviction, helps us deal with the complexity of our duties through a review of the axioms of the profession and our ethical responsibilities. Although I have never met Dr. Cahn, through this book he has been a good mentor.