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View Full Version : To all those college people out there, and anyone else who has a rant


Asmodeus
01-09-2001, 04:18 AM
Ok. It USED to be my opinion that college was meant for youngins to learn; to learn how to learn, to learn that there is a whole hell of alot out there to learn, and how to think for themselves. But, with my varied and unfortunatly vast experience in that realm of idiosynchratic crotchrot called college(institution of higher learning my ass!) I have come to the point or realization that college is not for any of the above mentioned purposes. True or false people: the professor professes their side of whatever topic there is. True. I will exclude mathmatics etc for the obvious reasons. Ok, and when you take a test, about the only way to pass is to regurgitate the garbage back at the professor.

What happened to learning for yourself? Did it just wither and die away? Or did it get beat done with a rusty crowbar and left out in a ditch for the crows to pick at?

That is what college is for people. It's purpose, or what was it's purpose, is for the students to learn. Period. It is NOT for the student to recite what the professor recited back for his professor, etc etc. College was meant for students to read and learn about different things about the world, ideas that have shaped what we see everyday, and how to think for themselves. It was not meant for mental stagnation, which is what it has evolved into by the way.

Now take philosophy for instance: what was the purpose for say, Socrates, to have done all that he did? To teach. He never once told his students what to do, how to think, etc. He asked them questions for them to learn their own way. His method was for the students to come up with the truth on their own, not for the teacher to tell them what is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you Cthulu, for that ruins the purpose of teaching. What is teaching if you are just telling someone how to do something or whatever? Nothing, because they are learning it for themself.

In this effusive ediface of ergonic mortification sometimes called higher education, there is precious little of actual teaching anymore.

We meek and lowly students sit in rather uncomfortable seats(which, by the way, some are meant for sixth graders, and I don't exactly fit into them considering I am a wee bit over 6 feet), listen to the professor's opinion, spin if you will, of a certain topic of banal idiocracy. Pardon me while I foam at the mouth and steam comes out my ears. Indigestion... humanity always does that to me. Who the fuck named them god over student's minds? Who gave them the power to say what and what not can be learned? Excuse me, but I have yet to find anything I "can't" learn, only stuff I don't wish to learn at this time.

Teaching, by definition, means the process of learning by individuals or students of a particular subject. Ok...where is it then? Every damn thing I have learned in all my years of college is what I have taught myself. Just because I know what learning signifies does not mean that knowledge is widely known.

Kids come in to a new place, a college, bright eyed and bushy tailed, eager for new experiences and learning. Have you ever wondered what makes people, upon graduation from college, so jaded when they get out in the REAL world and see what the fuck good their education did them? It is because they didn't learn a damn thing. They might have learned if they mix Balley's Irish Creme and Butterscotch Snapps together you will get a butterynipple, or some such bullshit like that. Some students may have even taken the initiative to learn that when you light a fart, it burns your ass hair. Some of the females may have learned that if they have sex alot they get tagged as a whore. Some of the guys may have learned that if they "get some" from the "whore" then they are "real" men, if only in their minds.

College doesn't teach anymore. I am not sure exactly what it does, but it sure ain't teaching.

Comments?

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Good shot...shoot him again.

King Bastard
01-09-2001, 05:34 AM
Shit, the above was so well put, that my shit is gonna seem just that, shit.

here we go ANYWAY...

My rant, or thing to bitch about this time, is the fact that workers are under appreciated. At least this is my experience.

It would seem that a simple truth has bee forgotten in the workplace. The boss isn't always right. I can recall my father telling me that back in the Old country, if a lowly newbie had a good idea, it was implemented. no matter that it came from the new guy. If it helped all concerned, it was done. Why the fuck cant we get back to that paradigm?

Now, I'm not saying we ignore the fact that at times, but not always, the upper level of the workforce has paid dues to get where they are. I can respect a person who has dropped years of their lives to a career, as long as they can maintain respect for the fact that I'm a person as well.....


Ahhh fuckit. You want fries with that?

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I'm a firm beliver in a ruling class, especially since I rule: Randall Graves-Clerks

zoey
01-09-2001, 07:12 AM
This past semester in my english composition class, we were studying different ideas of what knowledge and education really are and should be. i had to write a few essays about it too, if anyone wants to be bored to tears and read them just let me know.

Anyhow, there was one article we had to read called "College is a waste of time and money". it was very interesting, it was written in the 70's though. Basically the author just criticized the whole idea about college and how it really doesn't prepare students for career and life, and etc. i think you would enjoy her article, Asmodeus. Actually i think you may find all of the readings i did for the class rather interesting. here's list:

"College is a waste of time and money" by Caroline Bird

"University days" by James Thurber

"Examsmanship and he liberal arts: a study in educational epistomology" by William G. Perry

And there was another essay we had to read, i can't find it at this moment and i don't recall the title off hand. i'll get back to you.

Rabble Rouser
01-09-2001, 10:59 AM
This reminds me of my sociology professor. He didn't teach us shit...all he taught us (and gave us credit for come exam time) was his personal opinions about things. He called us names if we expressed our points of view or if we didn't agree with what he had to say. One time, he asked us what socio-economic class was the least happy, and I said the upper class, because they have nothing to strive for, and he said "That's the dumbest answer I've ever heard."

Yeah...we're really learning how to think for ourselves here...

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"You did it, Nibbles! Now, nibble through my ball sack!" - Principal Skinner

Zombie
01-09-2001, 01:53 PM
I am of the opinion that college has become something of a litmus test for entering the workplace.

Basically it is showing that you have the ability to stay with a project until it is completed, nothing more. It doesn't really matter what you learn there, a company will teach you their way of doing things. It is getting a piece of paper that says, "Yes, I can make myself do repetitive, useless tasks in order to achieve a goal in the future."

It is an investment. You pay your money, you get this piece of paper, and get a return on the time and money spent. Sort of an 'employment stock market.' There are good investments, like computer sciences (for now, anyway), and bad investments, like political sciences or being an English major.

Perhaps at one time institutions of higher learning were a place to learn, but in Corporate America they are merely a method for companies to screen applicants without expense. Not really much different from a temp agency in some ways, not much different from credit checks in others.

[This message has been edited by Zombie (edited 01-09-2001).]

Asmodeus
01-11-2001, 03:05 AM
Originally posted by zoey:
This past semester in my english composition class, we were studying different ideas of what knowledge and education really are and should be. i had to write a few essays about it too, if anyone wants to be bored to tears and read them just let me know.

Anyhow, there was one article we had to read called "College is a waste of time and money". it was very interesting, it was written in the 70's though. Basically the author just criticized the whole idea about college and how it really doesn't prepare students for career and life, and etc. i think you would enjoy her article, Asmodeus. Actually i think you may find all of the readings i did for the class rather interesting. here's list:

"College is a waste of time and money" by Caroline Bird

"University days" by James Thurber

"Examsmanship and he liberal arts: a study in educational epistomology" by William G. Perry

And there was another essay we had to read, i can't find it at this moment and i don't recall the title off hand. i'll get back to you.

Thanks zoey. Umm, are any of those articles and essays available online? I would to take a gander at them.

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Good shot...shoot him again.

zoey
01-11-2001, 07:34 AM
Originally posted by Asmodeus:
Thanks zoey. Umm, are any of those articles and essays available online? I would to take a gander at them.



Beats me. http://www.thehypertribe.net/ubb/frown.gif

KiwiTrip
01-11-2001, 06:06 PM
<font color=limegreen> i feel your pain.. i feel your pain.. </font>

estero
01-11-2001, 09:39 PM
<font color=pink>Don't even get me started about school. My university has been on strike for almost 3 fucking months. We are suppose to be going back TOMORROW. They want us to start our exams in like one month. They are totally going to rush us.

I am scared.

FUCK YOU YORK!

ps: I got flowers today! WHOO HOO!!!

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It's not our darkness we are afraid of, it's our light.

[This message has been edited by Kaye (edited 01-11-2001).]

Asmodeus
01-11-2001, 10:26 PM
Originally posted by zoey:
Beats me. http://www.thehypertribe.net/ubb/frown.gif



:-(:-(:-(:-(:-( You are gonna make me cry dammit! That sucks, you know? I really would like to have been able to see those articles. Oh well.