Out of the blue today, I thought of my favorite professor from college. Oddly enough, he was a philosophy professor, not business or finance (my major). I think I graduated just 3 credit hours shy of a minor in philosophy. I never had the desire to take Philosophy 101.
Anyways, this guy was a great professor. Loved philosophy, was really into it, and I had three great classes with him. I checked him out on Rate Your Professor.com and he’s still at my alma mater and still in the Philosophy department. And apparently, he still has insomnia, which he had when I was in college some 14 year ago (egads!). Some of the reviews say something like, “This guy blames insomnia on . . . ” but it isn’t blame, perse. He really had some issues, and still does, with sleep.
But what really struck me was what students were complaining about in their reviews. They were things like:
- He grades too hard, I studied for every test and still got a B
- I studied for three hours for the test and got a D
- the whole grade is based solely on 4 exams, which are graded harshly
- Do the readings, because if you don’t you won’t do good in class
- Low tech lecture teaching style that can be very boring over 50 minutes!
- attendance is not mandatory but you definitely should go if you want to understand the material
- this class is not an easy A, but then again I skip often and don’t read all the material, and have a C
What the hell has happened to higher education? Are these students the product of “helicopter parents” or perhaps the product of an upbringing where they always got their way and never failed? Did they get a trophy for coming in dead last place, and therefore don’t understand you have work for things in life? I remember college, especially the higher up classes, and studying for three hours did not suffice most of the time. I also remember being challenged, having to read the material in order to get a good grade, and being expected to think and push myself.
I am frightened at the prospect of working with these people in a few years!
Oh Erin, The question is: what is wrong with education? I am seeing some of the same things in middle school! I agree that this is the product of children (my generation included) who are leaving the nest much later in life and overall, maturing later in life. I’m 28 and many many people I know still live with mom and dad. Not only that, but out of college they expect a huge salary for little work. It’s crazy! Yes, we give way too many “trophies” out. Everyone wins everything!! No one has to work. I hate it!! I feel so bad for your professor friend. I seriously hope, yet doubt, the administration reads those comments with the same shock that we did. Ugh!