Re: Charlie Hill's long post

Charlie Hill (hill@VAXA.CIS.UWOSH.EDU)
Tue, 20 Aug 1996 11:00:22 -0500


On Mon, 19 Aug 1996, Darlene Sybert wrote:

> I agree with you--
>
> Comp classes, college, and youth are all wasted on 18 year olds...they
> have no idea how to get the most out of them...

Is *that* what I said? I need to work on clarity, because that sure isn't
what I meant!

I was attempting to argue very specifically against required general
education writing courses. And yes, the most worthless place to put a required
writing course that I could imagine is exactly where nearly every American
university puts it--right at the beginning of the college career, before
most students have even decided why they're at college.

By having writing courses available but eliminating *required* writing courses,
we would be forcing students to decide for themselves "how to get the most out
of" college. By forcing students to take certain courses at certain
points in their career, we're saying to them, "We're going to *tell* you
how to get the most out of college." Which approach treats college
students like they're clueless?

BTW, I am tempted to agree that youth is wasted on the young but, truth be
told, if I had my youth back, I'd probably just waste it *again.*

-charlie.

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Charles Hill Bitnet - hill@oshkoshw
Dept. of English Internet - hill@vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI 54901
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