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prytania3
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« on: October 23, 2006, 10:11:05 PM » |
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Every year my students seem to get more and more conservative (and most of them are Democrats). This year I have a basic comp class where the students are just plain square. I like to get lively discussions going in class based on the readings, so students can get ideas for writing and also "think critically," but this class is something else. They all agree with each other. There's no dissension.
About half the class is fundamentalist (and I'm in the NE, suburban NYC) and the other half seems to have come right out of the 1950's. Tonight we discussed an essay about a woman (college student) who had come from a traditional background, and while attending Berkeley, discovered some women ask men out. In the essay, she gets up the nerve to ask a classmate out for lunch.
Within 5 minutes, they all decided what she had done was wrong either because "you should wait and God will send someone to you" or "because guys are supposed to ask girls out." End of story.
In the past, I could have generated a good discussion on this topic, touching on both social equality and economics, but with this group, forget it. They wouldn't budge.
As I said, they are Clinton Democrats--I can only imagine the true right wing. Is anyone else finding the younger generations to be more and more conservative?
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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prytania3
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« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2006, 10:20:09 PM » |
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Oh, and another thing: any advice on how to rattle their cages? I'm thinking of offending them. That should get them going.
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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figee
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« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2006, 10:27:14 PM » |
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Offending students is one way of doing it. Alternatively, would assigning them sides in a debate which they wouldn't necessarily agree with work?
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"Eating at the Italian restaurant was a mistake." - student explaining how food poisoning was contracted while on fieldwork in Orissa.
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acrimone
The Red Queen's Court Assassin
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 4,049
I am not a professor at all, despite what I say.
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« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2006, 10:45:44 PM » |
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Frosh and other younger students often have the annoying cloud of traditional values over them because they haven't had the chance to experience the enlightened sophistication of the university yet, so they think silly things like gender roles for men and women are potentially useful, that getting married is a good idea, that religion isn't synonymous with insanity, etc.
Don't worry... they'll learn.
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"All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"
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prytania3
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« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2006, 10:56:19 PM » |
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Frosh and other younger students often have the annoying cloud of traditional values over them because they haven't had the chance to experience the enlightened sophistication of the university yet, so they think silly things like gender roles for men and women are potentially useful, that getting married is a good idea, that religion isn't synonymous with insanity, etc.
Don't worry... they'll learn.
You know, Acrimone, I don't think you're mean--just snooty and arrogant. I bet your parents or grandparents had a plantation in Cuba and came here in the 50's fleeing Castro. And you don't think it shows? That sort of snobbery exudes through cyberspace. |
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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figee
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« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2006, 11:06:00 PM » |
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Pry, a question I forgot to ask in my initial post. Your square students, do they look round?
(Sorry. I'm blaming that on the fact that I'm in the middle of marking.)
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"Eating at the Italian restaurant was a mistake." - student explaining how food poisoning was contracted while on fieldwork in Orissa.
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acrimone
The Red Queen's Court Assassin
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 4,049
I am not a professor at all, despite what I say.
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« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2006, 11:09:08 PM » |
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Actually, figee's idea about forced debate positions is exactly the way to go (although I'm not sure how important issue discussions are to a comp class).
Another way to do it is to examine their positions and start debates within those positions. If you put four ultra orthodox ultra conservative Catholics in a room, they'll eventually find SOMETHING to fight over. It might be the proper form of the Latin Mass, but they'll find it.
I'm going to go beat my slaves now.
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"All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"
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prytania3
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« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2006, 11:37:41 PM » |
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author=acrimone link=topic=30183.msg407692#msg407692 date=1161662948 Actually, figee's idea about forced debate positions is exactly the way to go (although I'm not sure how important issue discussions are to a comp class). Oh not important at all. I just do it to kill time. Another way to do it is to examine their positions and start debates within those positions. If you put four ultra orthodox ultra conservative Catholics in a room, they'll eventually find SOMETHING to fight over. It might be the proper form of the Latin Mass, but they'll find it. No, you've showed me the error of my ways. Traditional is good. Genders have prescribed roles, everyone should be married, and fundamentalism is the cat's meow. I realize now that I was trying to tear down the fabric of American societry. It's nice to know there's someone on the board like you, Acrimone, who has high standards, unwavering morals, and the answer to all things, who can straighten out misguided deviants like me. I'm going to go beat my slaves now. No doubt. You know, I've been threatened by the moderators that if I make any more personal attacks, I'll get banned from the fora, but you might be well worth it. |
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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prytania3
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« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2006, 11:45:01 PM » |
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Pry, a question I forgot to ask in my initial post. Your square students, do they look round?
(Sorry. I'm blaming that on the fact that I'm in the middle of marking.)
Thanks, Figee for your suggestion--but no they look square. |
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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fym22
Junior member
Posts: 98
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« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2006, 11:48:18 PM » |
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What I do find is the entire subject of your posting is highly offensive.
These students are entitled to any belief system they want to. For you to demean them and critize them just because they don't fit into your political belief mindset is arrogant, condescending and, to be perfectly honest, out of line for a college professor.
I think you need to seriously reconsider whether you even belong in front of a classroom, because apparently you don't believe in a free exchange of ideas---unless of course they just happen to match yours.
sad really...
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comp1
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« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2006, 11:48:41 PM » |
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Prytania,
I love using interesting readings to teach Comp. In my experience, it's useful to start discussions with students about the readings so that they get interested enough in their own papers to do a good job. The old issues about abortion and euthanasia just don't cut it anymore.
I remember teaching a Comp. class in which the readings were about gender. I was surprised to find that all of the students (all of whom happened to be female) were going to keep their maiden names. I thought it would be 50-50 (okay, 35-65). It was strange.
...Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just didn't expect it.
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prytania3
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« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2006, 11:52:42 PM » |
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What I do find is the entire subject of your posting is highly offensive.
These students are entitled to any belief system they want to. For you to demean them and critize them just because they don't fit into your political belief mindset is arrogant, condescending and, to be perfectly honest, out of line for a college professor.
I think you need to seriously reconsider whether you even belong in front of a classroom, because apparently you don't believe in a free exchange of ideas---unless of course they just happen to match yours.
sad really...
My goal is to poison minds, so why don't you take a late night swim with rocks in your pocket. |
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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prytania3
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« Reply #12 on: October 23, 2006, 11:56:39 PM » |
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Prytania,
I love using interesting readings to teach Comp. In my experience, it's useful to start discussions with students about the readings so that they get interested enough in their own papers to do a good job. The old issues about abortion and euthanasia just don't cut it anymore.
I remember teaching a Comp. class in which the readings were about gender. I was surprised to find that all of the students (all of whom happened to be female) were going to keep their maiden names. I thought it would be 50-50 (okay, 35-65). It was strange.
...Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just didn't expect it.
Abortion and euthanasia are on my banned list, too, and I don't care what they believe. I just want them to look at the other side of the issue. I'm out to pick a fight tonight. Maybe because Google broke through its high, and I am so scr**ed. Why didn't I get out of this trade???? |
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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comp1
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« Reply #13 on: October 23, 2006, 11:59:28 PM » |
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I know; I thought about you today. Sorry. :(
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figee
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« Reply #14 on: October 24, 2006, 12:40:26 AM » |
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Pry, a question I forgot to ask in my initial post. Your square students, do they look round?
(Sorry. I'm blaming that on the fact that I'm in the middle of marking.)
Thanks, Figee for your suggestion--but no they look square. No worries. So they aren't like Willy Wonka's sweets then? (Apologies again. Only another 7 papers to go. And a thesis) |
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"Eating at the Italian restaurant was a mistake." - student explaining how food poisoning was contracted while on fieldwork in Orissa.
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