This is a post intended as a vent that will keep me from writing it elsewhere...
I'm not sure when it started, but it seems to me that current students (and, especially debaters) think they know everything...
I'm not sure why they think that.
In the specific case I'm thinking about, hubby is in another battle with a debater/student from another school. This kid has the balls to tell hubby that hubby, "doesn't understand the insurgency" -- well, hubby's specialty is civil military relations within political science -- and, unless this kid just got back from Iraq on some super-secret undercover mission, I kind of think hubby has a handle on the nature of the insurgency. Of course D/S thinks hubby doesn't understand when hubby simply disagrees -- and, you'd think that a debater could tell the difference... but some debaters have some suceess (and, I think this kid's partner had a LOT to do with his success.. IMHO..).
Overall, I'm seeing a trend in students that shows them to be much more arrogant and much quicker to ignore the ideas of those who actually are experts in their fields. Maybe it is because they've been raised by boomer parents to believe their poo doesn't stink --
I know it isn't all college-aged people who are like this -- and perhaps it is the nature of debaters to be more like this.. but, DAMMMMM.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I am a student, albeit a much older student than most. Recently, I have been feeling like I need some humility because I hear myself and I sound like an arrogant know-it-all sometimes. Since this recent realization, I've tried to figure out why I do it, and I think it's partly a result of having professors telling me how brilliant I am. It has given me a big head. I am also starting to realize that I should take that as sign of encouragement and not a sign that I know everything already. I really don't know everything! I don't know why other people do it, but I know some pretty obnoxious students that way and even though they are probably just like me, I can't stand them! I don't want to be one of them. I think we need a class that just tells us how to listen and learn!
Anyway, that's a long way to say I think that sucks and I'm sorry some students are like that. On behalf of them all, I am sorry! We just need a little humility once in a while. (I also think that your theory about boomers might be right on, too!)
I think, in part, it is connected to the consumer attitude of education. There is an attitude that the customer is always right in higher education. Institutions are busy trying to get students to stay enrolled, and students expect it. If you don't like what they say they will take their business somewhere else.
I think that your observation about boomer parents is correct, too. Instead of challenging and supporting their children, a lot of parents just try to pacify their children. They don't want the children ever to suffer any disappointment. Children's activities are now designed so that everybody is a winner and all opinions are valid AND EQUAL! Children become adults without understanding the difference between an opinion and knowledge that is the result of study and scientific observation.
Post a Comment