Debate
This morning, before we opened our doors for business in the Writing Center, Jason and I engaged again in a long-standing debate on a subject on which we both sort of agree yet obviously differ slightly enough to warrant debate.
Without going into too much detail on my views on higher education and the standards that ought to be met in order to be afforded the opportunity to pursue such, I will simply quote a friend and colleague of mine who sums it up with the declaration that "Somebody has to make the Mcnuggets"... I'll leave it at that.
While I am all for equal opportunity in all walks of life, I don't believe that the educational playing field should be leveled to the extent that a higher degree no longer has any meaning. Some children do indeed need to be "left behind," particularly if they are not meeting a standard. It's all about standards. There has to be a line drawn in the sand, so-to-speak, over which only those who can cut it can cross. Jason, on the other hand, while he experiences the same frustrations with the system and does philosophically agree with me, must give in to his own socialist beliefs and feels that no one should be told that he or she "cannot" do something. He believes, whole-heartedly, that anyone can accomplish anything given the opportunity. Fair enough.
But...
Most people, in my experience, don't want to give the effort required to capitalize on such opportunities, opting instead for an attitude of entitlement, learning, as they do in our current society, that certain awards and perks are a given simpy because they "want" to have what others do and have a "right" to it. This is where I have to defer to standards and levels of ability. Here is my analogy:
I love baseball. I am a baseball fan. I watch the Cleveland Indians and get this thrill of adrenaline that motivates me to want to be out on that field, playing a game that looks to be exhilarating in its level of athleticism and pure child-like enjoyment.
I want to be a professional Baseball player.
One problem: I have no athletic ability whatsoever. I never played the sport. I have a rudimentary knowledge of the game, but do not possess the instinct to make crucial plays, take or swing at differing pitches, or run down and field a well popped up pitch into the outfield. My mere desire to play does not entitle me to an opportunity to play or even tryout first proving that I have even a modicum of business being out on that field. Some things are just out of reach. I don't mind. I don't feel like I'm being discriminated against because I am not getting a chance to run the bases at Progressive Field. I simply don't make the cut.
Someone's got to sit in the stands, eat the hotdogs, and cheer. That's much more my speed.
I'd like to see Victor Martinez teach writing.
Without going into too much detail on my views on higher education and the standards that ought to be met in order to be afforded the opportunity to pursue such, I will simply quote a friend and colleague of mine who sums it up with the declaration that "Somebody has to make the Mcnuggets"... I'll leave it at that.
While I am all for equal opportunity in all walks of life, I don't believe that the educational playing field should be leveled to the extent that a higher degree no longer has any meaning. Some children do indeed need to be "left behind," particularly if they are not meeting a standard. It's all about standards. There has to be a line drawn in the sand, so-to-speak, over which only those who can cut it can cross. Jason, on the other hand, while he experiences the same frustrations with the system and does philosophically agree with me, must give in to his own socialist beliefs and feels that no one should be told that he or she "cannot" do something. He believes, whole-heartedly, that anyone can accomplish anything given the opportunity. Fair enough.
But...
Most people, in my experience, don't want to give the effort required to capitalize on such opportunities, opting instead for an attitude of entitlement, learning, as they do in our current society, that certain awards and perks are a given simpy because they "want" to have what others do and have a "right" to it. This is where I have to defer to standards and levels of ability. Here is my analogy:
I love baseball. I am a baseball fan. I watch the Cleveland Indians and get this thrill of adrenaline that motivates me to want to be out on that field, playing a game that looks to be exhilarating in its level of athleticism and pure child-like enjoyment.
I want to be a professional Baseball player.
One problem: I have no athletic ability whatsoever. I never played the sport. I have a rudimentary knowledge of the game, but do not possess the instinct to make crucial plays, take or swing at differing pitches, or run down and field a well popped up pitch into the outfield. My mere desire to play does not entitle me to an opportunity to play or even tryout first proving that I have even a modicum of business being out on that field. Some things are just out of reach. I don't mind. I don't feel like I'm being discriminated against because I am not getting a chance to run the bases at Progressive Field. I simply don't make the cut.
Someone's got to sit in the stands, eat the hotdogs, and cheer. That's much more my speed.
I'd like to see Victor Martinez teach writing.