On May 17, 2009, in the St Petersburg Times, columnist Bill Maxwell wrote a column about a new program at St John's University in New York that was giving tenure tract for professors who teach writing rather than just conducting research.(http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/article1001353.ece).
In reading the article, it raised some very interesting questions.In 2007, the National Center on Educatiopn and the Economy released their report entitled Tough Choices or Tough Times reporting on the skills of the American Workforce. In the report, the Center reported that in 2007 American studentsplaced at the middle or bottom of their fellow students globally in Math, Science and general literacy. We continually hear from you in the trenches that the new workforce is ill prepared to survive in the 21st century workplace. Having said that we turn and allow our institutions of higher learning to spend the majority of their resources on advancing research that may or may not enable our next generation in increasing their skills.
I have to think back to my own college training because it was because of a willingness to buck the trends of the time I got a different perspective on the role of colleges and universities in our knowledge marketplace. In the 1960's and early 70's, there was a alternative program for college education called the "Parsons Plan." Represented by I believe seven colleges at the height of the program (Parsons College in Fairfield, IA was the model), which looked for professors who wanted to teach, not write or research. All of our lectures were taught by Ph.D's, the discussion groups were all conducted by Master's Degree holders. We learned because that was why we were there.
So on this weekend as we commemorate the invasion on D-Day, I pose this question to you. If you believe that the workforce is not being challenged to prepare as contributors to our way of life, then are you ready to challenge the university system who by intent or coercion force universities to concentrate on the research efforts of their professors at the cost of preparing our workforce? Or are you willing to remain in the staus quo?
I believe that the St John's model of giving consideration to those who those who teach our students to write is what we need to enhance the quality of workforce. Let me know your thoughts.
I have to think back to my own college training because it was because of a willingness to buck the trends of the time I got a different perspective on the role of colleges and universities in our knowledge marketplace. In the 1960's and early 70's, there was a alternative program for college education called the "Parsons Plan." Represented by I believe seven colleges at the height of the program (Parsons College in Fairfield, IA was the model), which looked for professors who wanted to teach, not write or research. All of our lectures were taught by Ph.D's, the discussion groups were all conducted by Master's Degree holders. We learned because that was why we were there.
So on this weekend as we commemorate the invasion on D-Day, I pose this question to you. If you believe that the workforce is not being challenged to prepare as contributors to our way of life, then are you ready to challenge the university system who by intent or coercion force universities to concentrate on the research efforts of their professors at the cost of preparing our workforce? Or are you willing to remain in the staus quo?
I believe that the St John's model of giving consideration to those who those who teach our students to write is what we need to enhance the quality of workforce. Let me know your thoughts.
No comments:
Post a Comment