Why I'm Disappointed in Education Right Now
1) I had to explain to the professor of my "capstone" literature course how the public school system handles teaching literature. She didn't know the national standards or those of the state of California in which she teaches. Her son is in 8th grade for Pete's sake!
2) In the aforementioned conversation, I was again reminded as to why I plan to teach--there is something severely wrong with the current standings of our children's reading comprehension levels, writing/syntactical skills, and ability to elaborate on thoughts verbally or on paper. Look at the SAT!
3) It is clear that we have gotten too lax in our whole grading system when there are multiple valedictorians with perfect GPAs in tons of graduating classes all over the country. Even on a tougher scale where + and - grades affect the overall score. Twenty years ago the honor of cum laude was given to people with GPAs two decimal places lower, on average, than they have today.
4) I am about to graduate from an institution that expects me to read and identify passages from classic pieces of literature which they have never forced me to read, study, or even place on a socio-cultural timeline in the history of writing.
5) Not once in the last four years has anyone actually made an attempt to see if I was interested in graduate school, nor has anyone attempted to get me interested in graduate school--an action which might improve the university's statistical standings in certain areas.
6) With three weeks of classes left including finals, I have nothing left to do except 2 1/2 major papers and three exams. They have made it possible for me to stop attending classes, taking notes, studying, and paying attention altogether three weeks before they think about sending me my diploma in the mail.
7) That's right. My diploma is coming in the mail a month after the ceremony because I am one of the few and the proud that will be completely finished with her coursework within the four years allotted to me without the help of summer school, additional time at my institution, or an overdone full load at any point in time.
8) It is possible to do the afforementioned feat, but few succeed because PLNU's view of education does not allow much pad room for those who do not know exactly what they want to do from the very beginning.
Rant finished, I promise. I love this institution, and I have learned a ton from the experience. I am just frustrated with the way they have chosen to handle these particular issues in my final days here. Did I mention that disorganization, lack of communication, and stupid errors drive me up a 30 foot wall?!
2) In the aforementioned conversation, I was again reminded as to why I plan to teach--there is something severely wrong with the current standings of our children's reading comprehension levels, writing/syntactical skills, and ability to elaborate on thoughts verbally or on paper. Look at the SAT!
3) It is clear that we have gotten too lax in our whole grading system when there are multiple valedictorians with perfect GPAs in tons of graduating classes all over the country. Even on a tougher scale where + and - grades affect the overall score. Twenty years ago the honor of cum laude was given to people with GPAs two decimal places lower, on average, than they have today.
4) I am about to graduate from an institution that expects me to read and identify passages from classic pieces of literature which they have never forced me to read, study, or even place on a socio-cultural timeline in the history of writing.
5) Not once in the last four years has anyone actually made an attempt to see if I was interested in graduate school, nor has anyone attempted to get me interested in graduate school--an action which might improve the university's statistical standings in certain areas.
6) With three weeks of classes left including finals, I have nothing left to do except 2 1/2 major papers and three exams. They have made it possible for me to stop attending classes, taking notes, studying, and paying attention altogether three weeks before they think about sending me my diploma in the mail.
7) That's right. My diploma is coming in the mail a month after the ceremony because I am one of the few and the proud that will be completely finished with her coursework within the four years allotted to me without the help of summer school, additional time at my institution, or an overdone full load at any point in time.
8) It is possible to do the afforementioned feat, but few succeed because PLNU's view of education does not allow much pad room for those who do not know exactly what they want to do from the very beginning.
Rant finished, I promise. I love this institution, and I have learned a ton from the experience. I am just frustrated with the way they have chosen to handle these particular issues in my final days here. Did I mention that disorganization, lack of communication, and stupid errors drive me up a 30 foot wall?!
posted by Mel at
7:15 AM
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