When I was in 7th grade, my lit teacher was talking about how students in band tended to score better on standardized tests, so more people should join band because it makes you smarter. Me, being a band nerd said, “Maybe its more that the smart kids join band, rather than band makes you smarter” or something to that effect. I guess I would call that ‘politically incorrect’ now. She was not happy.
All kids are above average
On the same day, a flyer was distributed in all the boxes of HEC, Quebec’s top French business school, lending credibility to the aforementioned principal’s other statement. The flyer, written by HEC’s Student Service office announced that it would give four seminars to the students about the following:
* Learning methods/ Studying efficiently;
* Managing stress;
* Organizing your time and managing your motivation;
* Back to your studies.
Nanny situation indeed for the 19-years and older. And at a business school, where one would expect some self selection based on both drive and being able to deal with stress (what business career is there without it?). By 19 you would also expect to be able to study efficiently and know how to organize your time.
I have to disagree here. First, I doubt schools ever had an expectation that their students would know all the above entering university, but you were expected to master these skills over the course of your stay. What’s changed now is that many students go to college without having more than a rudimentary knowledge of how to study, cope with stress, manage your time, etc. Even if you try to treat students as adults, this is a serious problem. The seminars above seem an effective way to get some of that knowledge into the general student population without a lot of effort or babying of your students.
Having said that, if these seminars are intended for people who are working towards advanced degrees (which might be the case) and have already demonstrated competence by picking up a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, then that’s pretty low expectations for the university.
1. Have a plan before entering university.
2. Do your assignments.
3. Drink beer.
4. Graduate with honors.
When I was in 7th grade, my lit teacher was talking about how students in band tended to score better on standardized tests, so more people should join band because it makes you smarter. Me, being a band nerd said, “Maybe its more that the smart kids join band, rather than band makes you smarter” or something to that effect. I guess I would call that ‘politically incorrect’ now. She was not happy.
All kids are above average
I have to disagree here. First, I doubt schools ever had an expectation that their students would know all the above entering university, but you were expected to master these skills over the course of your stay. What’s changed now is that many students go to college without having more than a rudimentary knowledge of how to study, cope with stress, manage your time, etc. Even if you try to treat students as adults, this is a serious problem. The seminars above seem an effective way to get some of that knowledge into the general student population without a lot of effort or babying of your students.
Having said that, if these seminars are intended for people who are working towards advanced degrees (which might be the case) and have already demonstrated competence by picking up a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, then that’s pretty low expectations for the university.
1. Have a plan before entering university.
2. Do your assignments.
3. Drink beer.
4. Graduate with honors.
Why stress?