Now when I was in college ...
ESOTERICA
I saw a piece about High Point University in yesterday's Globe. It's written up in the Detroit Free Press today:If Chelsea Johnson wanted to, she could get an automated wake-up call in the morning, leave her clothes at the concierge desk for dry cleaning, grab some free pretzels and a banana from a snack cart and then unwind in a hot tub with several of her friends.No wonder schools now cost $50,000 and more per annum. They're freaking resorts!
Johnson is one of the 2,800 undergrads at High Point University, "where every student gets an extraordinary education in a fun environment with caring people." [I'm always leery of educational entities that use "fun" as an adjective.]
At High Point in North Carolina, that means an ice cream truck with free frozen treats, part time valet parking, live music in the cafeteria and a birthday card signed by the president with a Starbucks gift card tucked inside on a student's special day. Freshmen don't have to live in dorms; they live in apartment-like housing.
A growing number of schools are offering resort-like amenities: private rooms and private baths with double beds, cleaning service, free laundry, HDTV and 24-hour dining halls with bagels, pizza and fresh fruit, as students and their parents demand more.
Seriously, I don't necessarily begrudge students who attend such schools, or the parents who send them. However, I'd hope that some sort of, you know, education is going on at these places. At the very least, it sure sounds like it'd be difficult to be weaned away from such an idyllic environment into the real world of work.
posted by monocle at 7/21/2008 07:41:00 AM
2 Comments:
It seems philosophically linked to a local controversy we had about a local principle that wanted to tone-down (not cancel) 8th grade graduation ceremonies, arguing that backless gowns, limos and lavish parties sent the wrong message to kids- that they’d finished, when in fact someone need to tell them they’ve just begun. In an increasingly competitive world we’re rewarding kids for achieving the things they need just to complete.
I seem to remember Obama strongly criticizing similar 8th grade celebrations a couple of months ago.
Colleges that offer these things are obviously reacting to the fact that most "college rankings" seem to rate quality of education on par with lifestyle and that these rankings drive student choice to a significant degree. While it is fine for an applicant to take all available information into account when choosing a school, it seems odd to me that parent would want their child to go to a school with a lesser eduction because it is more "fun" or has plasma tvs in every room.
Of course, I chose a college mostly on the basis of where I could get the best education, and completely ignored "quality of life" rankings. It is fine for me now but I can say that I would certainly trade my four-years in "the City that Reads" for time spent in one of the other wonderful places available to the 18 year old me.
Post a Comment
<< Home