"Unless we revolutionize our colleges, where we are producing only a few people who master the skills and do all the analytical work of the society, we are betraying the students. The task of a writing teacher in a basic course is to prepare students to write close, organized, reasoned prose and to encourage students to make judgments and to work with larger and larger collections of date. I would consider this a bit like some of the basic skills you need in a society, driving a car, knowing how to penetrate the rhetoric of politicians.
It's hard for me to imagine anyone entering into any job or particular civic responsibility where they don't have a chance to control things of being controlled by them. The people who are so ready to dismiss the need for this skill are generally the people who have already acquired it to a great degree themselves and are using it to make an argument against it" (216).
Mina has such a wonderful way with words. There's such a constitutional ring to her statements, without being overly political and obtuse, which would alienate her audience. She knows how to balance the line well. While I believe in her message, I have difficulty envisioning it coming to true fruition. I'm reminded of the video Discounted Dreams, where the Dean of a community college explains the "churn" method of education. In short, so long as there is an equal or higher number of students entering the doors as there are leaving, then the institution is happy. The school really does not care for the progress of their students, which is quite upsetting. Still, we need more people like Mina to believe in an ideal world and strive to make the one we're in a little bit better.
Nick, I agree. It's so unfortunate that that's the case, as in the example presented from Discounted Dreams. It's sad that college is a money maker first and an institution for personal growth & development second. For me, that's one of the biggest reasons why I'd prefer to work in a community or public college and receive a satisfactory income, instead of a private college with more prestige receiving more money. I want to be that support that Mina was for so many.
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