In “Message to My Freshman Students,” Keith M. Parsons delves into the message that he wants to convey to his incoming freshmen. What prompted this was he believed that his current students had come into college ignorant to the changes between high school and college. One of the “main things” that his students need to know, is that there is a difference between a college professor and a high school teacher. He discuss how in high school there was more of a pressure on teachers to make sure their students did well, but for a professor there is much less. The state requirements do not force professors like Parsons to focus on academic success, and therefore are not obligated to make sure their students pass or not. Parsons insists on making a point for his new students to realize that the responsibility has shifted from teacher and student to more of just the student. In his piece, Parsons big thing is how his job is not to make his students learn, but to bring us to the knowledge, continuing his point of the responsibility being now on the Student. Parsons wants his students to accept that “learning is [the student’s] job.” All of this information is meant to guide his incoming Freshmen and to explain the new environment they are about to enter.
Parsons has valid points throughout this piece. However, the way he goes about it, to me, is a bit insensitive. To begin with, he points out how there’s a difference between teachers and professors. The way he points out the difference was a bit harsh. He focuses on how high school teachers are evaluated, based on if their students get bad results, while he gets paid regardless of his student’s grades. The way he states this, “I get paid the same whether you get an “F” or an “A,” just seems so insensitive to me. He could have put it a little more lightly to his students. To me he blatantly tells his student he doesn't care how they do, it’s unimportant to him because it really doesn't affect him in any way. I understand that there is less pressure on professors for their students to do well, but he could at least act like he cares a bit more.
This transition is a big one for incoming freshmen, I would say a majority, including myself, know this to be true and understand college is different than high school. But to feel as if your professor doesn't care about your future or your academic accomplishments, is not the reassurance that nervous, vulnerable freshmen need. Parsons says how “it's not my job to make you learn,” which to me he makes it seem as if he doesn’t care. Again, I understand that a college professor cannot coddle their students anymore, but being a little more sensitive might actually help his students care more and try harder in this transition. There is a big difference between high school professors and high school teachers, yes. High school teachers, while they're semi-forced, are invested and care whether their students do well and give the knowledge they need to move forward. College professors, according to Parsons, are just there to “lead [us] to the fountain of knowledge.” Which i don't necessarily agree with. I have met college professors who really care about how well their students are learning and doing in class.
He does make a lot of valid points about how our education is now our job, "and ours only." We need to start learning to depend on ourselves to get things accomplished. However, this is a huge transition and can take time to adjust. It’s unrealistic to expect first year students to flip automatically. Almost as easy as flipping like a light switch. But from experience, it’s not as easy as it sounds, transitioning into a college student is hard. It can be done, but with time. To me, Parsons should ease up on his incoming Freshmen, just a bit, until they start to get into the groove of college. I feel that Keith Parsons went into this piece with a good intention. To help his incoming freshmen students with the differences in the environment they are about to enter. However, his delivery is quite harsh and to some, like me, can actually have sort of a stand offish tone and makes me not want to take his advice.
He does make a lot of valid points about how our education is now our job, "and ours only." We need to start learning to depend on ourselves to get things accomplished. However, this is a huge transition and can take time to adjust. It’s unrealistic to expect first year students to flip automatically. Almost as easy as flipping like a light switch. But from experience, it’s not as easy as it sounds, transitioning into a college student is hard. It can be done, but with time. To me, Parsons should ease up on his incoming Freshmen, just a bit, until they start to get into the groove of college. I feel that Keith Parsons went into this piece with a good intention. To help his incoming freshmen students with the differences in the environment they are about to enter. However, his delivery is quite harsh and to some, like me, can actually have sort of a stand offish tone and makes me not want to take his advice.