Bonfiglio, Robert. “College: A Time of Wonder.” About Campus (May 2006): 27-29. Print.
In “College: A Time of Wonder” by Robert A. Bonfiglio, he starts his discussion by pointing out the irony of students being anxious or even fearful, and the excitement that seems coupled by the prospects of starting college. The fear he says, comes from the experience of a radically different environment, academically and socially, than anything they've experienced before. The excitement is derived from the thoughts of reaching a new, very recognizable chapter in their life. Bonfiglio then goes into the evolution of collegiate academics, stating that pre World War II colleges were elitist institution. The administration and graduates felt that completing college was a simple matter of you either have the ability, or not. This led to these individuals to purport themselves as social and academic elites. However with the end of World War II, more individuals wanted to become educated as well as had the means to do so. University’s started focusing on retention of their students, and started developing programs and carefully structured freshmen curriculum to help integrate the incoming freshmen population more seamlessly. This further evolved into institutions educating their students on such aspects of crime or racial discrimination. Unfortunately the approach colleges have taken in the past to help ease students into college life has shifted to focus less on academics, and more on social issues such as drug abuse. Also a lack of advising to an incoming freshmen class makes the message portrayed as don't thrive in college, but survive it. Bonfiglio I feel, wishes to get across the point that through education, we can overcome the new issues that freshmen encounter, whether it's a more diverse racial environment, inability to cope with new found freedoms, or a more strenuous curriculum. Through education we are all both capable and equal.
Bonfiglio, Robert. “College: A Time of Wonder.” About Campus (May 2006): 27-29. Print.
In “College: A Time of Wonder” by Robert A. Bonfiglio, he starts his discussion by pointing out the irony of students being anxious or even fearful, and the excitement that seems coupled by the prospects of starting college. The fear he says, comes from the experience of a radically different environment, academically and socially, than anything they've experienced before. The excitement is derived from the thoughts of reaching a new, very recognizable chapter in their life. Bonfiglio then goes into the evolution of collegiate academics, stating that pre World War II colleges were elitist institution. The administration and graduates felt that completing college was a simple matter of you either have the ability, or not. This led to these individuals to purport themselves as social and academic elites. However with the end of World War II, more individuals wanted to become educated as well as had the means to do so. University’s started focusing on retention of their students, and started developing programs and carefully structured freshmen curriculum to help integrate the incoming freshmen population more seamlessly. This further evolved into institutions educating their students on such aspects of crime or racial discrimination. Unfortunately the approach colleges have taken in the past to help ease students into college life has shifted to focus less on academics, and more on social issues such as drug abuse. Also a lack of advising to an incoming freshmen class makes the message portrayed as don't thrive in college, but survive it. Bonfiglio I feel, wishes to get across the point that through education, we can overcome the new issues that freshmen encounter, whether it's a more diverse racial environment, inability to cope with new found freedoms, or a more strenuous curriculum. Through education we are all both capable and equal.
No comments:
Post a Comment