University is Going Downhill
That's what I've decided while being stationed at U of T for 7 months. I'm in grad school so I'm required to teach a certain number of hours to the undergraduates. It's part of getting my funding to pay my tuition, so I don't have much of a choice. But here's what I've found while sitting in lecture or office hours, or marking tests or labs. Students are getting lazy. Or maybe they always were, and I was just too involved with my own education to notice?
I did my undergrad at a small university. I always said I wouldn't have goine there if I had to do it again, but now I'm undecided. I have experienced U of T from a couple of perspectives. First all I heard were accounts from other students who went here. They claim it is very hard to do well, and many of them are trying to get into Med school. I beleived them. I know it's a good university and it's known for it's discoveries in science. But the population of undergrads is HUGE and they sometimes win. They want easier classes and higher grades.
Now that I'm teaching and marking I have to deal with the 25% of students who come back to the prof or the TA and ask for more marks. Almost every case is someone just asking because they did more poorly then they expected, and they think the TA will feel sorry for them? If the mark is deserved, then I give it to them, but this doesn't happen often. I am thourough with my marking. I want the students to do well if they deserve to do so. I look for marks for them, but they still come back complaining.
So, now I'm frustrated and convinced that many of the students here (and all other universities I'm sure) aren't really interested in what they are studying. They want good grades, end of story. I was never like that. I mean of course I wanted good grades, but I like what I do. I love what I study, and that's why I pick the course. Based on content. Not based on what prof makes the easiest tests. It boggles my mind.
The university goal is for everyone to be able to attend. A bachelors is no longer for the elite people who want to continue their education for the love of learning. It's for everyone, so grad school has become that distiction. But, they are trying to raise enrolment in grad programs by 30% in the next few years. It's crazy. They are slowly making the pHD the only distinguishing degree. For crazy people like me who don't mind spending half of their life in school. And the rest of their life paying the bills.
I'm here to learn, and discover. I wish everyone else was too. It would make my teaching much more rewarding, and my life plan a little more bright. If I end up teaching for a living, I hope I get the courses that only enroll people who are there to learn.
I did my undergrad at a small university. I always said I wouldn't have goine there if I had to do it again, but now I'm undecided. I have experienced U of T from a couple of perspectives. First all I heard were accounts from other students who went here. They claim it is very hard to do well, and many of them are trying to get into Med school. I beleived them. I know it's a good university and it's known for it's discoveries in science. But the population of undergrads is HUGE and they sometimes win. They want easier classes and higher grades.
Now that I'm teaching and marking I have to deal with the 25% of students who come back to the prof or the TA and ask for more marks. Almost every case is someone just asking because they did more poorly then they expected, and they think the TA will feel sorry for them? If the mark is deserved, then I give it to them, but this doesn't happen often. I am thourough with my marking. I want the students to do well if they deserve to do so. I look for marks for them, but they still come back complaining.
So, now I'm frustrated and convinced that many of the students here (and all other universities I'm sure) aren't really interested in what they are studying. They want good grades, end of story. I was never like that. I mean of course I wanted good grades, but I like what I do. I love what I study, and that's why I pick the course. Based on content. Not based on what prof makes the easiest tests. It boggles my mind.
The university goal is for everyone to be able to attend. A bachelors is no longer for the elite people who want to continue their education for the love of learning. It's for everyone, so grad school has become that distiction. But, they are trying to raise enrolment in grad programs by 30% in the next few years. It's crazy. They are slowly making the pHD the only distinguishing degree. For crazy people like me who don't mind spending half of their life in school. And the rest of their life paying the bills.
I'm here to learn, and discover. I wish everyone else was too. It would make my teaching much more rewarding, and my life plan a little more bright. If I end up teaching for a living, I hope I get the courses that only enroll people who are there to learn.
posted by Aimee at 5:40 AM
1 Comments:
You have always set a standard way above the norm for yourself and those with which you associate! You have high standards and although this is to be commended you will find it difficult to set those same morals and guidelines for everyone....for the most part they just won't get it!
When you get to the point where you are the Prof...and one day you will be, then your classes will be attended by the elite group of students that actually want to learn and be challenged, because you will have the rep of being a hard ass prof that gets very few pay raises cause the students hate you!!!
I'll always love you, because you are just like me!
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