I’m fascinated by the moments in people’s lives in which they sense that they need to change in some fashion, and in this case, leave a profession entirely. John Smith, writing anonymously, is a professor at a small liberal arts school, and he’s at one of those moments in his own life:
After too many years at this job (I am in my mid-40s), I have grown to question higher education in ways that cannot be rectified by a new syllabus, or a sabbatical, or, heaven forbid, a conference roundtable. No, my troubles with this treasured profession are both broad and deep, and they begin with a fervent belief that most of today’s college students, especially those that come to college straight from high school, are unnecessarily coddled. Professors and administrators seek to “nurture” and “engage” and they are doing so at the expense of teaching. The result: a discernable and precipitous decline in the quality of college students. More of them come to campus with dreadful study habits. Too few of them read for pleasure. Too many drink and smoke excessively. They are terribly ill-prepared for four years of hard work, and most dangerously, they do not think that college should be arduous. Instead they perceive college as an overnight recreation center in which they exercise, eat, and in between playing extracurricular sports, they carry books around. If a professor is lucky, the books are being skimmed hours before class.
Can you remember a turning point such as this? Anyone care to share in comments?
And I should note that this professorial rant about students seems as old as the hills….
November 20th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I go through this every three years and I’m in the process now! I don’t yet know what’s next, but I know that this phase is dying/dead.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Such reflections and decisions certainly are fascinating, especially when, as is the case with John Smith, they seem to hinge on subjective perception. You’re absolutely right that this particular rant is as old as the hills (maybe older), so, if it’s really the case that the students haven’t changed much (I actually think they’ve gotten smarter and harder working), what has actually shifted?
As is often the case when people abandon careers, it seems more like a failure of the individual’s imagination than it does a failure of the profession. But, if you can’t imagine a different reality, sometimes the only other choice is to walk away from your current situation.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
(((They are terribly ill-prepared for four years of hard work, and most dangerously, they do not think that college should be arduous. Instead they perceive college as an overnight recreation center in which they exercise, eat, and in between playing extracurricular sports, they carry books around.)))
Yeah, yeah, I know all this from the movie “Animal House.”
Wait a second! That movie wasn’t made about the kids who are in school now!
Indeed, if it came out in the late 1970’s… and he’s in his forties…
CC
November 20th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Ha, ha! It IS from Animal House!
@CashmereLibrarian Good luck on your next endeavor. It’s always good to be aware of when you’re in the “dying/dead” phase. I think many people aren’t!
@Jim It does seem very subjective.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
“Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.” (the dean from “Animal House”
Perhaps Prof. Smith’s problem is that he no longer knows how to teach to and reach the youth of today. That’s not a good or bad thing–it simply is. When the type of students have changed (probably for the better and for the worse), and you no longer feel like you’re able to help them, then it’s okay to do something else. Do what excites and interests you–life is too short-and too long- to do something for a living that kills your soul.
A colleague of mine had been thinking on and off about starting his own architectural firm, and he got the boost he needed when he was laid off about a month ago. He took it as a sign from the universe which coincided with a few other things–he wife finally getting her RN and getting a great job at a nearby hospital, getting calls froma few contractor friends looking for someone to do some small renovation projects, etc.