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Monday, August 2. 2010

Edu-utopianism

Students Who Don't Study - Evidence shows that college students put in less and less time on coursework but receive higher grades.


Allitt begins:



American discussions of education often veer over into utopian fantasy, and one of the commonest delusions is that nearly every young person wants to be educated. The reality is quite different. 


Nearly every young person wants the qualifications that offer access to well paid work, and will do as much as it takes to get them.  But most youngsters do not care deeply about education for its own sake, especially if getting it requires long hours of solitary, disciplined study.  Learning is hard, often joyless, and for centuries was understood to be so alien to youngsters’ inclinations that it had to be reinforced with frequent beatings. 


Now we indulge the idea that not just basic literacy but a high level of formal education is for everyone, and that they will appreciate it.


Posted by The Barrister in Education, Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 14:40 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

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My daughter is a nursing student in a Baccalaureate program. She's had two years of pretty hard-core classes -- stats, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. Her program seems to awarding grades based on achievement, at least.
I'd think the sciences and engineering would be like that. Poli sci, history and other "liberal arts" majors may be easily diluted this way.
#1 Geoff Brown on 2010-08-02 18:03 (Reply)
My high school English teacher for 3 years liked to say,

"Knowledge macketh a bloody entry"

a pun on the stage directions for "Macbeth."

None-the-less true.

Nowadays, the so-called liberal arts are a fraud. Ripped-off students should be able to sue their schools. If the schools go under, so much the better. The US would be better off with many fewer liberal arts colleges. Say, 90% fewer.

By the way, I taught engineering for 37 years in both colleges and state universities.
#2 bob sykes on 2010-08-02 18:38 (Reply)
Dear Barrister:

I keep asking you when it is that we will have Republican, or conservative attorneys willing to defend straight, white guys on campus? There are NO employment attorneys (unionists,liberals,)
who will defend that which you claim to want to preserve. WE are out here alone subject to stalking, blacklisting, harassment of all types including illegal searching of private homes. Yet, you refuse to look at the reality of the situation--without attorneys from the our side who are willing to defend innocent white males trying to uphold standards and ethical behavior, there is no possibility of correcting the situation!!! Why don't you help to organize attorneys in the major university cities, who will set their own children's futures at stake and do the right thing: stand and defend those who are trying to protect integrity in academia. Even just an organized website/database would help. Some type of committee, or group who would help to support would be wonderful. ATTORNEYS FROM YOUR IDEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ARE NOT WHERE YOU ARE NEEDED and that is because it would cost you personally! NOT ONE REPUBLICAN WILL CHALLENGE ONE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATOR OR POLICY over EMPLOYMENT ISSUES! Without that there is no hope!
#3 facultywife on 2010-08-02 18:57 (Reply)

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