the learn-ed
I think this is going to be the most conservative viewpoint I have ever had. It's so not liberal I'm a little ashamed, but after teaching in the public school system and observing a state university, I believe this. Maybe someone can talk me out of it...so here goes.
Why does the education system make so many allegiances for students who are not at the right grade level? Why are students who haven't mastered subject-verb agreement in college? I just don't get it. The prevailing attitude in public education was that it was the school's responsibility to maintain a child's self-esteem. Can't hold em back a year, it will hurt their feelings! Can't put them in a remedial class, it will lower their self-esteem! Can't tell them they need to actually study on their own time and PRATICE what they learn, it might permanently damage their egos! Why is that?
Okay...tangent. I understand the significance of being the first one in a family to continue an education after high school, or to even graduate high school for that matter. But if you are in an English class in college that is technically a high school or even middle school-level class, are we really doing that student a favor? Congratulations on being a college student (though you read at a 9th-grade level - but that's okay, take English 48.) I say they should definitely continue their education and take continuing education classes, but if you are not ready for college on a very structurally basic level, when will you learn those skills? I'm not saying these people aren't intelligent and I'm sure they have talents and amazing ideas, but when does communication become important enough to say...okay good, I'm talking myself out of it! Maybe someone sucks at English but is a brilliant mathemetician. Should they be denied mathematical theory because they can't spell? I suppose not. But there is a difference between grammar skills and ideological skills. I've encountered some pretty dim students at my university, students who can't communicate a basic question or follow-through on a professor's instructions. How did they get here? Don't students have to demonstrate a certain written and/or communcation ability to get into college? I had to write an entrance essay - don't others do too? I've read some of these papers - college students - and they can't write a coherent sentence to save their life. And they got through high school with probably even poorer skills than now. Maybe I'm a cold-hearted intellectual snob...well, so be it. I just don't get why and how they are here. College used to be college for a reason - not everyone goes. Seek all options available to you, but sink or swim.
I just don't understand why we give high school students so many outs. They can "pass" a class with a D. They can fail 20 - 20! - classes and still graduate on time. For classes they don't pass and need for graduation, they can take alternative education and fill out a packet or two and bingo! diploma for you. We are doing them a disservice! They get to college and then some girl working in the tutoring center rants about their lack of ability...But seriously, many of them never understand what it means to work hard in school, to appreciate their free education, to take advantage of the opportunities available to them. And why should they? They get into college anyway.
Blogs are supposed to be short, so I'll clam shut my conservative views for now. I tell you, I'm not proud, but I can't stand this aspect of education. You have to have skills to do anything else - why should college be any different?
Why does the education system make so many allegiances for students who are not at the right grade level? Why are students who haven't mastered subject-verb agreement in college? I just don't get it. The prevailing attitude in public education was that it was the school's responsibility to maintain a child's self-esteem. Can't hold em back a year, it will hurt their feelings! Can't put them in a remedial class, it will lower their self-esteem! Can't tell them they need to actually study on their own time and PRATICE what they learn, it might permanently damage their egos! Why is that?
Okay...tangent. I understand the significance of being the first one in a family to continue an education after high school, or to even graduate high school for that matter. But if you are in an English class in college that is technically a high school or even middle school-level class, are we really doing that student a favor? Congratulations on being a college student (though you read at a 9th-grade level - but that's okay, take English 48.) I say they should definitely continue their education and take continuing education classes, but if you are not ready for college on a very structurally basic level, when will you learn those skills? I'm not saying these people aren't intelligent and I'm sure they have talents and amazing ideas, but when does communication become important enough to say...okay good, I'm talking myself out of it! Maybe someone sucks at English but is a brilliant mathemetician. Should they be denied mathematical theory because they can't spell? I suppose not. But there is a difference between grammar skills and ideological skills. I've encountered some pretty dim students at my university, students who can't communicate a basic question or follow-through on a professor's instructions. How did they get here? Don't students have to demonstrate a certain written and/or communcation ability to get into college? I had to write an entrance essay - don't others do too? I've read some of these papers - college students - and they can't write a coherent sentence to save their life. And they got through high school with probably even poorer skills than now. Maybe I'm a cold-hearted intellectual snob...well, so be it. I just don't get why and how they are here. College used to be college for a reason - not everyone goes. Seek all options available to you, but sink or swim.
I just don't understand why we give high school students so many outs. They can "pass" a class with a D. They can fail 20 - 20! - classes and still graduate on time. For classes they don't pass and need for graduation, they can take alternative education and fill out a packet or two and bingo! diploma for you. We are doing them a disservice! They get to college and then some girl working in the tutoring center rants about their lack of ability...But seriously, many of them never understand what it means to work hard in school, to appreciate their free education, to take advantage of the opportunities available to them. And why should they? They get into college anyway.
Blogs are supposed to be short, so I'll clam shut my conservative views for now. I tell you, I'm not proud, but I can't stand this aspect of education. You have to have skills to do anything else - why should college be any different?
posted by jsl @ 1:24 PM
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