Once again I interrupt my reflections on responsibility and choice in
the classroom. The interruption is caused by a student journal entry I just
read this morning. She wrote: "My philosophy professor realized the stuff we
have been learning for the past two weeks is not any material that going to be
on our test so I just believe I learned something that isn't important and that
I will never use. What a waste. It's not just the two weeks. It's that this
is such an unnecessary class for what I want to be. I mean, let's get real.
It has nothing to do with my biology major any more than do some of my other
classes. And to boot, my advisor agrees with me and told me he doesn't know
why we are required to take this useless Core stuff. And, this course is
supposed to mean something to me? I mean why won't someone tell me why I have
to waste my time and parents' money taking this useless class?"
Oh, the sins of a credentialing education. Oh, the sins of so often
converting our campuses into only white--collar vo-tech schools. Oh, the sins
that so many academics believe the same thing. And, don't blame her for these
attitudes. She didn't come out from the womb with them; they weren't built
into her genetic code. They are a "learned response.". She, like most
students and parents, was well taught in it, and she, like most students and
parents, learned it well.
Do you think this student is unique? I know she isn't. For me it's a
battle I wage every day. But, I ask, if you believe it is your responsibility
to address this myopic view of the classroom experience; if you believe in
"deep learning," in "life-long love of learning," in a liberal arts foundation
found in what we call "the Core," what would you tell this student? I know
what I will say to her if she gives me the chance, but first I sent her a copy
of a Random Thought I shared way back at the beginning of 1997 titled "Why Do I
Have TO Take" and told her to read it before we talk--if she wanted to talk.
Make it a good day
-Louis-
Louis Schmier
http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org
Department of History http://www.therandomthoughts.com
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, Georgia 31698 /\ /\ /\ /\
/\
(O) 229-333-5947 /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\__ / \ /
\
(C) 229-630-0821 / \/ \_ \/ / \/ /\/ / \
/\ \
//\/\/ /\ \__/__/_/\_\/
\_/__\ \
/\"If you want to climb
mountains,\ /\
_ / \ don't practice on mole
hills" - / \_
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