In Keith M. Parsons’ blog post, “Message to My Freshman Students,” this Philosophy professor specifies the differences between high school “traditions” and college expectations. In high school, teachers were encouraged to be a guide and cater to their students’ needs. They were often penalized or held accountable for their students’ failures, and students in turn, became accustomed to being spoon-fed new material. Parsons compares the transition into college to venturing into a culturally different country. He states that in higher education, “learning is your job – and yours alone.” Students should be independent, and it is no longer teachers who are held responsible for the failure of the student. Because of this new transition into the adult world, Parsons expresses that college students who are fresh from high school traditions need to learn how to listen and focus.
As a part time high school and college student, this particular blog post provoked a mixed reaction from me. To me, it seems as if Parsons is portraying the role of the almighty professor who holds all power in his hands, and the students are the ones who—in my perceived opinion of his view—should be scurrying to drink from his “fountain of knowledge.” The tone of the text in his blog prompts a high amount of denouncing accusations toward the high school education system, and toward the mindset of ALL incoming first-year students, or “freshman” as he calls them.
Parsons indicates that high schools are no longer preparing their students for college; they are preparing them for the next standardized test. He assumes that all high schools are the same, and they all prepare their students in the same manner. As an AP student at my local high school, I feel like my classes do in fact prepare me for college, considering I actually have to listen, take notes and successfully study for relevant tests. Parsons mentions that students need to have better critical listening skills, and albeit I agree to his valid point, I believe as if that particular concept is something that should be developed, and that Parsons is expecting too much out of his first-year students. Although Parsons did bring awareness to real problems teenagers face, such as independence, I feel like he proceeded to point it out in the wrong way.
Instead of addressing ALL incoming first-year students, perhaps Parsons should’ve called attention to the issues that need to be addressed, such as the students who have a background for lack of commitment, or the students who seem to be disinterested upon first impression. Because Keith Parsons was so conditioned by instructing older, seasoned college students, I am convinced that the way he was used to teaching has clouded his outlook on the different grade levels in college. Just because the first batch of freshmen students Parsons has taught in many years didn’t live up to his highest expectations and drink fruitfully from his “fountain,” doesn’t mean he should judge and condemn his future pupils. They just might surprise him.
As a part time high school and college student, this particular blog post provoked a mixed reaction from me. To me, it seems as if Parsons is portraying the role of the almighty professor who holds all power in his hands, and the students are the ones who—in my perceived opinion of his view—should be scurrying to drink from his “fountain of knowledge.” The tone of the text in his blog prompts a high amount of denouncing accusations toward the high school education system, and toward the mindset of ALL incoming first-year students, or “freshman” as he calls them.
Parsons indicates that high schools are no longer preparing their students for college; they are preparing them for the next standardized test. He assumes that all high schools are the same, and they all prepare their students in the same manner. As an AP student at my local high school, I feel like my classes do in fact prepare me for college, considering I actually have to listen, take notes and successfully study for relevant tests. Parsons mentions that students need to have better critical listening skills, and albeit I agree to his valid point, I believe as if that particular concept is something that should be developed, and that Parsons is expecting too much out of his first-year students. Although Parsons did bring awareness to real problems teenagers face, such as independence, I feel like he proceeded to point it out in the wrong way.
Instead of addressing ALL incoming first-year students, perhaps Parsons should’ve called attention to the issues that need to be addressed, such as the students who have a background for lack of commitment, or the students who seem to be disinterested upon first impression. Because Keith Parsons was so conditioned by instructing older, seasoned college students, I am convinced that the way he was used to teaching has clouded his outlook on the different grade levels in college. Just because the first batch of freshmen students Parsons has taught in many years didn’t live up to his highest expectations and drink fruitfully from his “fountain,” doesn’t mean he should judge and condemn his future pupils. They just might surprise him.