Vince,

Thank you. Please keep reminding us what real education is all about.

I can also highly recommend Neil Postman's book, "Technopoly" for its many
insights into what technology has done to our culture.

Doug Reaves

At 11:25 PM 05/07/2004 -0400, you wrote:
>>>>> [log in to unmask] 5/7/2004 3:33:17 PM >>>
>>(Gen Y) Student arrives at College they are place very interesting
>demands
>>and expectations on both faculty and and IT staffs..
>
>Here's a novel idea, how about colleges and universities say to
>undergrads: "Hey guys and gals, we know that you've basically called the
>shots all through your primary and secondary education - or lack
>thereof.  After all, your parents would have sued the school system if
>your self-esteem got the slightest dent.  They would have raised holy
>hell if your teachers gave you any grade lower than a B+.  But tell you
>what, the party's over.  If you want a degree from an institution that
>is supposed to be of higher learning you'll need to actually DO some
>higher learning. And we aren't talking drugs here.  You need to
>understand that WE are making the demands and expectations, not you.
>
>"For instance, we demand that you take your education seriously. We
>expect that you will learn to write English sentences, that you'll learn
>to speak using language somewhat more sophisticated than a series of
>monosyllabic grunts. You are going to come to understand that you didn't
>invent the world, that there are thousands of years of civilization
>behind you, and millions of years of human existence.
>
>"We are going to ask that, at some point real soon, you set aside the
>pointing and clicking and the jazzy PowerPoint presentations and start
>doing some thinking, because thinking is what you are going to need to
>do when you get out of here.  Most of the technical and vocational
>skills we teach you will be obsolete before you get your first job.  We
>know you are adept at using computers, that's good, but so are millions
>upon millions of people in Asia who'll work for forty cents an hour.
>You may have a nimble cell phone thumb, but you are going to need a
>nimble mind a whole lot more.
>
>"And if you think you've got all the answers already, why the hell are
>you here?"
>
>Editorial note: The above rant was produced by Vince Rossano Dream On
>Productions.  Any resemblance to real events taking place any time in
>the future is extremely unlikely.
>
>:-)
>
>
>
>Vince Rossano
>Information Technology Director
>Montpelier Public Schools
>58 Barre Street
>Montpelier, VT 05602
>
>Phone: 802-225-8690
>