Hey - let's make it 10 cents. Perhaps the reason _why_ we made it to that
Doc. level school was because we did buy the book, speak in class, be
motivated, take classes because our advisors said to, etc. I remember going
to college and being shocked that 3 hours of studying for a test did not
mean I was going to get an A (or, for that matter, pass). I didn't study
very much in high school - I really don't remember even reading the book
that often. I had to change that behavior - but I didn't change it until
near the end of my freshman year when I decided that I wanted to go
overseas to study and had to bring up my grades to do that. I was also
lucky enough to be roomed with someone who wanted to be premed and worked
hard to get to med. school, so she didn't bother my studying (although I'm
sure I bothered hers at times!).
The school attitude also helped. It was small, not frats or sororities, and
almost everyone lived on campus. The classrooms were constantly open,
including the labs, until late at night. I remember most of the class
getting together after dinner, radio playing, working in the lab. The
seniors also could ask for a study desk in the buildings (not just the
library) so we had a special place to study besides our room. Here, we
cannot leave a single classroom unlocked and I don't think that sends the
right message.
At 10:22 AM 2/28/01 -0500, H. Gelpi wrote:
>Had to add my 5 cents
>
>Responding to the reality that we were probably not perfect students either.
>I completely remember playing the "do the minimum and maintain the GPA" game
>in college. Even in grad school, while juggling work, school, and personal
>life, there were textbooks and readings I did not completely keep up with,
>etc. I guess the point is I understand that we may not be that different
>from today's students.
>
>However, The big (and often shocking) difference for me is this. When I
>attended classes, no matter how I felt about the class, I had the sense to
>present myself to the instructor as a highly motivated and dedicated
>student, regardless of my interest level or occasional lack of preparation.
>Also, if I hadn't properly prepared for a class, for whatever the reason, I
>tried to bring as little attention to that as possible.
>
>On the other hand, many of my students proudly make statements that I would
>have considered (and still do) academic suicide. They often make it known
>that your class is not even close to a priority. And if that's not bad
>enough, they inform you that they have no intention of reading the book, or
>even buying it. To make it worse, this lack of preparation does not prevent
>them from asking uninformed and irrelevant questions.
>
>Maybe college was more intimidating to me. Maybe it was good manners. I
>actually recall as a 1st or 2nd grader when we were obligated to sit "eyes
>up and at ready" with pen and paper on desk before our teacher entered the
>class. Was I dreaming?
Deb
Dr. Deborah S. Briihl
Dept. of Psychology and Counseling
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698
(229) 333-5994
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://chiron.valdosta.edu/dbriihl/
Well I know these voices must be my soul...
Rhyme and Reason - DMB
