College for all - right?

[BarTopDancer]

High school did not prepare me for college math.

[Pirate Bill]

I read this, rather slowly and in pieces, as time permitted me at work. I'm just not getting what the point of the article is. Maybe it's because I had to read it in bite-size chunks, or maybe it's because I just don't get it.

What I do get from it is that the author equates not passing English 101 to not being college material. I disagree.

I've found that we often become snobbish in the things we focus on...either in home or work life. It's seems snobbish to me to look down on someone (in the academic sense) for not having read To Kill a Mockingbird. That doesn't mean that they can't learn something even if they fail (I'm sure Ms L did learn something and will benefit from it). And it doesn't mean they can't benefit from or excel at other subjects offered up by the college.

Every time I take my car to the mechanic I get "scolded" for not changing the oil every 3,000 mile/3 months. I wonder if they think I'm not ready to own a car. My dental hygienist disapproves of my poor flossing habbits. I'm flabbergasted by people who don't apply regular security software updates to their computers. People who tell me they've never been to any Disney park in their life (adults...with kids even!) just get blank stares of bewilderment from me. And don't even get me started on people who buy DVDs that have been formatted to "full frame." *shudder*

So, yes. I too get snobbish about the things that I focus on. I might think that some people aren't ready for computer ownership, or need to high-tail it to the nearest Disney park, or need to plead to the movie gods for forgiveness. But in the grand scheme of things, I would be wrong.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

What I do get from it is that the author equates not passing English 101 to not being college material. I disagree.

I think what the author was getting at was more exemplary than simple fact. Let's face it: some people aren't cut out for traditional college education. my take was that the author was just giving an example from his area of experience. The issue was the complete lack of critical thought by Ms. L. She was unable to grasp simple instructions and repeated (and polite) admonitions of "you're doing it wrong: here is the right was to do it."

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

And don't even get me started on people who buy DVDs that have been formatted to "full frame." *shudder*

Well, in this instance, this is truly a situation where that person should not be allowed to own a DVD player. But this is the exception.