Teaching these required freshmen courses is really depressing because people have such a punkish attitude and have clearly had such bad situations all their lives. At this university I was raised to feel sorry for these students, but I am no longer able to do so. I think the only answer is to make these courses really hard.
Suddenly I see the point of required courses in which students must do certain things to pass, even if they are never going to need or use the material in any way. These courses are to show them how to study and in some cases to keep them from continuing.
I also think there should be majors’ and non majors’ tracks for foreign languages and some other fields, as there are in the sciences. I refuse to listen any longer to the people who say foreign languages are so very difficult that one cannot expect people to learn them as they do math, chemistry, and biology.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
And — I will never again (at least at this institution or any with which I am familiar) teach a class in which I do not control the policies and methods one hundred percent, or in which I try to adjust the course, material, or methods to where students (and some instructors) believe, in their wisdom, they should be. I will no longer stop using my expertise; I will no longer try to just fit in; I will insist upon my quite generous and up to date goals and standards.
Despite all my difficulties in life, one of the two things that have given me immeasurable benefits is the authoritarian school education I had. The other thing was the ability to roam the countryside freely, on bicycle, foot, or horseback, as a child.
I think you made some good points about required courses.
Did I read your comments on my blog wrong, is your politics in transition?
Education — Jennifer, my education wasn’t authoritarian, but it was competent, so it had authority, and I didn’t have parents and pastor saying “never believe the teacher or the book” which is what happens now. RE, I’m glad *you* like these points on required classes.
Politics — no, it’s not in transition except to the extent that I am learning more and more about irrationality. The twin irrationalities of the religious right and of the mainstream Democrats who actually believe the cover stories about why we are doing what we are doing (e.g. keeping the world save from Pakistani nuclear warheads that could fall into Al Qaeda hands). Also, I haven’t seen enough good examples of socialism lately and I am demoralized.
I must, must watch this and can’t now. Thanks.
It *so* fits with so many conversations I’ve had lately.
“Doc (and oh yes, Jen)”
Here Mark said teaching was important and research was not.
If there’s no research, there’s nothing to teach, I say. –Z
I had one or two authoritarian teachers and they made me crazy. I’m not overly fond of authoritarianism.
Who likes being told what to do all the time and then more or less running wild when not under supervision? Yes, that is the traditional way kids have been brought up, but I don’t think it’s all that wonderful. It’s only very recently that other methods of child rearing and education have been making any headway. It was just fine when the world was less crowded and families were large, but it’s an anachronism now. Paradoxically, each person is more important while there are more and more of us. We have to face these realities and act for the future.
Seriously, we have got to start thinking along different lines. We’re running out of room and resources. That’s why anyone dealing with education now feels so stressed. What will be the future of all these people coming along? It’s frightening.
My sister didn’t like the authoritarian system, either. She used to become very tearful. But she, now is the fundamentalist authoritarian and I am the extreme liberal of the family. I still say that it was the internalisation of ruthless self discipline that enabled me to break free from the fold.