next »

[finallyfullprof]

http://chronicle.com/weekly/v54/i09/09b03201.htm

While I agree with the premise that we need to emphasize creative thinking,  I am not as enamored with several aspects of this article:

1. This woman and her husband are not typical community college students. If they are taking classes strictly for enrichment, then they should probably use the auditing option so they don't have to worry about  a lot of the rules that apply to those needing the credits.  I would hope they could see from the student population that surrounds them that many rules are in place not for the sake of having rules or crushing the academic dreams of precious snowflakes, but rather for helping those who have little sense of what being a student means become learners.

2. As a corollary, the article does not address the fact that often rules are imposed from the administrative end rather than the academic one.  For example, many ccs have attendance requirements that apply to all students. Again, this is not to crush their dreams of becoming executives but to give them the tools they need for success.  I assume the author does not realize that in cc-land, a great number of these future CEOs would attempt to achieve success through minimal attendance, the equivalent of the boss attempting to run the company by being on the golf course 75% of the work day.  If the majority of our students could teach themselves, they would be attending school somewhere else.

3. I'd like to see the study to which Ms. Laws refers about the differences between community college students and university students. I am curious about sample selection, numbers of students participating, and demographics.

I do agree that some of the examples she gave were egregious, but they are certainly not the norm. And I completely understand where some of these professors were coming from as far as issues such as cheating and attendance. I also understand emphasizing grades because my experience has been that this is the one issue students care about above all others.  Yes, some actually care about my class and are interested in learning, but a good number of them will be far more interested in that letter so they can move on to the next hoop, er, I mean class, to achieve that piece of paper so someone will give them a job that pays well.

[arnoldas]

Charlotte Law's non-citation of a study showing that community college students are the academic equals of four-year students contradicts my 30 years of teaching experience at Queensborough Community College, CUNY. I challenge her to cite the study by name and place of publication.

As for the professorial twits her anecdotal article draws upon, I could match her twit for twit not only at community colleges but at undergraduate and graduate schools.

If her article typifies her experiences at community colleges, one wonders why she keeps returning to them to learn particular skills. Surely, if a student had been warned in most classes that she couldn't use superior equipment, shouldn't produce first rate products, and should, in general, dumb herself down, why would she remain in that system? How would using substandard tools and substandard thinking  to produce mediocre products advance her skills?

What I think we have here is a caricature of the community college experience very similar to the stereotype held by a number of professors in four-years schools about their lesser colleagues in the two-year schools. Particularly depressing is the fact that it was written by someone on the scene who should know better. I am puzzled by the motivation behind this article.   

[zuzu_]

I work at a CC in the West; someone photocopied this article and put it all of our mailboxes today.

1. This woman and her husband are not typical community college students. If they are taking classes strictly for enrichment, then they should probably use the auditing option so they don't have to worry about  a lot of the rules that apply to those needing the credits.  I would hope they could see from the student population that surrounds them that many rules are in place not for the sake of having rules or crushing the academic dreams of precious snowflakes, but rather for helping those who have little sense of what being a student means become learners.

This was my objection, too. I am an admitted quiz nazi and attendance nazi. But these policies came from professors that I had as an undergrad, and these are strategies that I found motivating to me as an 18-20 year old. It's that extra kick-in-the-a$$ you need to do the readings and stay engaged. I excelled in the classes that had this kind of rigidity.

I do see her points in some respects, though. The article has made me examine my teaching practices, and as arrogant as I am about my teaching skills, that is no small feat :)

And that story about her husband telling the professor he had to be in court...that's some funny $hit.