In parsons A message to my freshman, he speaks very openly about his expectations and what a “freshman” in college should be prepared to expect. Before he began teaching his first freshman class in “many years” he was told by an unnamed source that his “freshman students would be apathetic, incurious, inattentive, unresponsive and frequently absent, and that they would exude an insufferable sense of entitlement.” He speaks on the student needing to step up and assume the responsibility of an adult, and emphasizes on numerous accounts the he is not your teacher but your professor, additionally implying that he has less of a responsibility to ensure you learn outwardly stating “ It is no part of my job to make you learn. At university, learning is your job -- and yours alone.” Comparing his position, Professing, to those of the teaching profession. He emphasizes how coddled upcoming college students are due to the “reformed” way of teaching. He continues of to discuss, how old fashioned universities are. I take issue with Parson’s approach at his “freshman”, I feel as though Parson was generalizing a group of people as an entirety. And he is basing his hypothesis off of something he was told and not from his own account. He even mentions that “I am happy to say that this characterization was not true of most students.” which shows that his personal account of having freshmen for the first time was very different from what he expected. and not at all complacent with what he has been previously told. His use of the term “freshman” is condescending, as well as his tone from the jump “I will address my Freshman as follows” , that shows his generalization and detachment because no matter how his first class turns out or who ends up being in his class he is going to address them as such. Parson’s also makes direct hits at the modern day “freshman’s” attention span, pointing out that we “crave constant stimulation”, and he bashes Teachers for adapting to that and doing “flipped classrooms”. He mentions that universities are “Ancient” and “old fashioned” and seemingly takes pride in that. However, after a few generations, you cannot use the same teaching strategy on the newer children. Then have different experiences, different values, and a different way of learning. Older generation have no need for constant stimulation because they did grow up in a time where everything they did was just one click away. His comment “Hogwash. You need to learn to listen”, is what I found the biggest problem with. I felt as if he was detached, and condescending. Which should not be qualities of an effective teacher. To be detached from your students, will not make them want to be there anymore or be any more effective in the classroom. Lastly, his tone was very condescending and arrogant when comparing himself to high school teachers and the student declaring that “It is no part of my job to make you learn”. and putting additional emphasis on the fact that he is not responsible for any part of your education. All his job description entails is that he provides the information. All in all i feel as if Parsons is taking a very archaic and close minded approach to his freshman class. He does not know them yet to decide whether or not they are lazy or nonchalant about learning and he's very detached from his students. I feel as if school is a mutual journey between the professors and the students. No, I don't think the professor should hold the students hands all the way til graduation. but you have to at least have some level of understanding that these freshmen are not going to conform overnight, and you have to work with them.
4 Comments
Treasure Johnson
9/1/2015 01:36:15 pm
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, Jake.
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Treasure Johnson
9/1/2015 01:36:59 pm
I feel as though if he is going to address his freshman as such he should have more updated experience with them
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