Gap in Generations
Posted 07-20-2010 at 08:18 AM by EmmyNoether
The difference in cultures especially across the generation gap-lines never ceases to amaze me. Yes, I recognize that if I make Ferris Bueller references, they will go over all of my students heads. This crushed me the first time it happened. What really killed me was when my office mates (4 years my junior) hadn't heard of MC Hammer and did not know how to fill in the following: "MC Hammer is Too to !" However, it isn't just the lack of a pop-cultural basis that I find fascinating, but the difference in behavior and expectations that a mere 8 year gap yields.
For instance, when I was in college I would never have addressed anyone who taught me as anything except Professor So-and-so. My students just assume to call me by my first name. In addition to that, the amount of expectations they have for resources is borderline appalling. Here is the break down: Here at research university we have a fully-staffed help room (even in the summer!), free peer-tutoring (even in the summer!), the solutions manual posted online, and a teacher who is willing to answer questions via email or meet with them outside of class (me). Still, my students want to turn in the homework late despite only having a whole week to do it. Also, they expect me to hand out exam practice problems, which is like writing a whole other exam. In addition, they'd like me to post previous semester's exams, which is standard for some profs to do during the academic year.
I haven't really been posting recently because I feel like every post would be some kind of rant against my students. Like how even after telling one of them that it was a terrible idea to cram because "this course is cumulative, so if you get behind on something we do in the second week, it moves too fast for you to catch up and you'll have problems on the exams," she still didn't come to class and admits it was because she was cramming to get the homework done! I guess I feel so passionately about these sorts of things because I had none of the resources that my students have and I expected a whole lot less. I did all my homework on time or else it wasn't graded, never missed class, and when I didn't understand things, it was completely on me - Most professors weren't available to make time for students.
In 8 years, I've watched the expectations from college professors grow into those for high-school and I believe that's the real problem. Most of the teachers in high school do not hold their students accountable enough - even at the top schools. I feel like teaching math has turned into how I remember learning history. "Here is a bunch of stuff you have to memorize, there will be a regurgitation-test in 3 days." The students might be able to pass the AP, but do they know how to think for themselves? Not really. So when they get to college and the expectation of learning is deeper and more logically connected, students have a conniption. They no longer know the system and find themselves without even the most basic of their comforts. Then, worried for them, I feel like reputable universities cow-tow to ease students worries. However, I feel like this trend of giving in does a disservice to the students as well as higher education. Maybe that is at the core of my frustration with this generational gap.
For instance, when I was in college I would never have addressed anyone who taught me as anything except Professor So-and-so. My students just assume to call me by my first name. In addition to that, the amount of expectations they have for resources is borderline appalling. Here is the break down: Here at research university we have a fully-staffed help room (even in the summer!), free peer-tutoring (even in the summer!), the solutions manual posted online, and a teacher who is willing to answer questions via email or meet with them outside of class (me). Still, my students want to turn in the homework late despite only having a whole week to do it. Also, they expect me to hand out exam practice problems, which is like writing a whole other exam. In addition, they'd like me to post previous semester's exams, which is standard for some profs to do during the academic year.
I haven't really been posting recently because I feel like every post would be some kind of rant against my students. Like how even after telling one of them that it was a terrible idea to cram because "this course is cumulative, so if you get behind on something we do in the second week, it moves too fast for you to catch up and you'll have problems on the exams," she still didn't come to class and admits it was because she was cramming to get the homework done! I guess I feel so passionately about these sorts of things because I had none of the resources that my students have and I expected a whole lot less. I did all my homework on time or else it wasn't graded, never missed class, and when I didn't understand things, it was completely on me - Most professors weren't available to make time for students.
In 8 years, I've watched the expectations from college professors grow into those for high-school and I believe that's the real problem. Most of the teachers in high school do not hold their students accountable enough - even at the top schools. I feel like teaching math has turned into how I remember learning history. "Here is a bunch of stuff you have to memorize, there will be a regurgitation-test in 3 days." The students might be able to pass the AP, but do they know how to think for themselves? Not really. So when they get to college and the expectation of learning is deeper and more logically connected, students have a conniption. They no longer know the system and find themselves without even the most basic of their comforts. Then, worried for them, I feel like reputable universities cow-tow to ease students worries. However, I feel like this trend of giving in does a disservice to the students as well as higher education. Maybe that is at the core of my frustration with this generational gap.
Total Comments 0
