I was dismayed, but not surprised, by the ad hominem
characterizations of community colleges in recent posts. To take two
examples:
Ken Steele wrote:
"All public universities and community colleges [in North Carolina]
are interconnected through a set of "articulation" agreements. The
OFFICIAL FICTION is that the first course in (e.g.) introductory
statistics covers the same material whether one is attending UNC-
Chapel Hill, A[ppalachian] S[tate] U[niversity], or BLOWFLY COMMUNITY
COLLEGE. Credit for taking the introductory stat course at BLOWFLY
CC would transfer automatically to UNC-CHapel Hill because,
officially, both courses cover the same material." (emphasis added)
Edward Pollak wrote:
"Aside from the PATENTLY SILLY idea that [an] A from Chapel Hill
indicates the same level of subject mastery as an A from the local
community college, there is the issue of requirements.... If EAST
PODUNK COMMUNITY COLLEGE allows their gen. ed. history req. to be
fulfilled by any history course (e.g., "the turbulent 60s, history of
the Wild west, etc.) we had to accept it."
I liked "Blowfly Community College" because, a long time ago, back
when I used to be intelligent (i.e., prior to my community-college
career), when I took courses and performed research at what some have
considered to be pretty damned good research universities--first, as
a graduate research fellow (psych dept at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign) and, second, as a postdoctoral research
associate (zoology dept at Arizona State University--Tempe)--I did
some work on learning and genetics in a species of blowfly (Phormia
regina).
Now, as for "East Podunk Community College," well, I don't think I
like that one as much. According to one dictionary I consulted (why
yes, it's a collegiate dictionary, thank you very much), "Podunk"
refers to a "small isolated town, region, or place that is regarded
as unimportant." Even more upsetting is that this poor little
community college is located in only one part of Olde Podunk Towne.
How unimportant it must if it is only one of four potential Podunk
CCs! North, South, West, & East!! Furthermore, what if there are even
more subdivisions than this? East, Northeast, Southeast, etc.? Oh
dear, what sort of "education" could one obtain at Southeast Podunk
Community College? I'm sure not as much as at Blowfly Community
College (and we all know about THAT place!).
Of course, one must agree that it is "patently silly" to think that a
superior grade at Northwest Podunk Community College or Dung Beetle
Community College is similar to a superior grade at Appalachian State
University or West Chester University of Pennsylvania. The "official
fiction" that the "instructors" at Pile of Rat Crap Community College
have academic standards similar to the professors at these two
esteemed universities also is laughable (to me, at least).
By the way, are there any data from studies using representative
samples and somewhat adequate controls that might allow us to take
these claims seriously?
Probably, but I don't have time to look right now. I need to finish
grading my research-methods students' dioramas.
Best,
Jeff
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D.
SCC, Division Chair of Social & Behavioral Sciences
MCCCD, General Studies Faculty Representative
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottsdale Community College
9000 E. Chaparral Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
Office Room #: SB-128
Office Phone #: (480) 423-6213
Division Fax #: (480) 423-6298
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