University of Lazies

A recent article in the...I think The Toronto Star suggests that professors think that first year students are lazy. They are used to being babied in elementary and high schools. Professors feel that students are unprepared for the work load at university. What's more, Universities are blaming high schools for student's incompetence.

Give the kids some slack! Post secondary has enough new regimes to get used to as it is. The main one is that for most students, this is the time when you move out of your parent's house. You're on your own for the first time. Suddenly, there's no one to do your laundry or cook dinner and clean up after you. Grocery shopping doesn't get done its self. First year university students are instantly loaded with a lot of responsibilities, most of them determine they're survival. (Always the over dramatics.)

If professors think that students are too far behind when they step into the lecture, here's a thought: don't expect them to know the way to handle university, teach them how. As a professor, part of your job is to teach and broaden the mind. Don't blame the high schools.

I think this is a case of setting the standards too high.