12 | PERSPECTIVES
www.theloquitur.com
Friday, Dec. 10, 2004
As the world evolves so should a society of people DIANA ASHJIAN STAFF WRITER DA725@CABRINI.EDU
Along with every new generation come new changes. The country in which we live is constantly evolving, but I’m not sure into what. Accordingly, the ways in which we communicate, construct the roles of each other within our society, assemble and utilize our values and morals, interact socially, and learn have revolutionized and become what we know as, “The Information Age.” In this country, educators are very well aware of this and strive not only to keep up with the incessant changes, but also to stay aware of what their purposes are so that they can perform their job more effectively. So, what is an educator’s purpose? And how should an educator educate? Long ago, communication was based on reading, writing and conversations either personally or via the telephone. Before that communication and the ways in which people learned were orally, by word of mouth or by the written word and a trusty chalkboard. Now, our boundaries have exploded and allowed us to explore much more
advanced means of communication. Today we are taught to do academic research on the Internet. We now have networks that provide us with the kind of technology that make the old mathematical and grammatical classroom seem so outdated, but are these furthered networks curbing humanity and making networks out of us? Students need guidance to understand that as individuals in society, they eventually need to separate themselves from stereotypes and decide where their place will be in the world instead of merely accepting false identities placed upon them. I really don’t think that teaching a group of 30 students all in the same way could be effective to all of them. Even varied techniques wouldn’t reach everyone because the less attention from a teacher to a student who is a child, to me, means less trust. And classrooms that are becoming increasingly technological may be expanding resources, but at the same time could be trading in real objective and a real passion for learning for teachers who, as a result, are neglecting a more empathetic approach at constructing real person-to-person contact in the classroom. It is not enough for the youth
of America to digest the words, the thoughts and the ideas of another. Maybe the purpose of initial American schools was to mold a people into citizenship, but now America’s youth is expected and might soon be forced to go into other countries and risk their lives to help build governments that agree with the values that have continually spiraled South of where they started, right here in the U.S. So, doesn’t that mean that we need new and more profound goals? It takes more than hype about a political campaign to promote liberalism and more than memorization of the preamble of The Constitution to encourage patriotism. I’m just not sure exactly what would. What is the point if what is learned by that same youth that will be asked to fight, than, is not too much more than how to make a “works cited” page and how to calculate a mortgage. Maybe a proposed deeper kind of digestion should start with the dissection of “The Pledge of Allegiance.” When is the last time any of us has had to say it? And when and if we still do, do our right hands flutter to our chest consciously to make a pledge or is it out of old habit? What I’m saying is that it is questionable whether or not our
country’s children are learning to lead or being led into apathy and conformity with textbooks, worksheets and even prayer that could all very well have no sufficient meaning or substance without time spent on allowing the student to grow with new knowledge instead of on top of it. Maybe humanities should be stressed more than, but not more in a standardized form that includes status quos and test scores, but in a form that is presented existentially allowing room for uniqueness and individualism. I think that more creative classes, such as theater and poetry, could prove to be a significant part of learning because students, through art and literature, can adopt morals and values. I do realize that the Internet could be such a useful tool in assisting such a mission and I don’t dispute that. What I am disputing is the danger in trying to bring the world so close together with communicative technology and marketing that monotony will become paramount and the human soul in all of its creativity will start to become extinct. Sound far-fetched? Sure it does, but someone tell me in which direction the educational curriculums in our country’s grammar schools are sending the kids.
Someone reassure us all as future and aspiring leaders that those at our heels are learning the kind of empathy that will teach them to respect each other’s opinions and differences instead of learning how to scorn each other for them aggressively and ruthlessly, like in Columbine. Whichever way American children are taught, I think that schools are fundamental tools in shaping an entire county, and that is why they should be challenged. Every grant should be considered and questioned. I’m not particularly sure what purpose every school has or every teacher. I would like to think that purposes would include hopes at enhancing and stimulating the individual minds of America’s youth and finding as much brilliance as possible as well as emphasis on compassion and interpersonal skills that build confidence along with technology and all that it has to offer. In closing and in my personal opinion, I think that a separation of schooling and state could and ideally should be looked into and considered by those who plan on making a difference in the schooling system and by those who dare to really lead because as our world continues to evolve so should we as a society of people free to do what we choose.
A ‘jazzy’ atmosphere Cons of commuting SONSAE BREWSTER GUEST WRITER
On a quaint campus in the middle of nowhere lies a small catholic college. This college campus houses about one thousand students and provides a place of escape and quiet to study. Can I get a Grande double shot mocha latte with a shot of vanilla and extra whipped cream?? Can I get a cafe latte with a bit of caramel please? Or maybe One of those smoothies with a lot of whipped cream. These are just some of the requests that one would hear thrown around the bustling workspace known to those of the Cabrini College Campus and its visitors as Jazzman’s. A quaint little shop of sorts, whipping up the latest (as well as the priciest to most) in meal exchange, goodies, sandwiches, coffee’s and smoothies made available to the average college student. From mocha double shot espressos to the famed Santa Fe sandwiches and Club Wraps, the selection is one that is preferred to that of the café. Seems like a great place right? To be surrounded with happy go lucky students and fac-
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ulty early in the morning, dealing with the gripes of everyday college with smiles plastered on their faces as well as those whose days are not going the best. To be bombarded by demands of never before heard combinations of hyperactive caffeine laden concoctions, sandwiches, bagels, treats and the anonymous extra pickle request. How about working there? Well I work there and let me say things look a lot easier from the outsiders perspective. It’s a nice place to work and enjoy the company of your fellow man after class or during a break in classes. But to actually see what goes into the making of running a shop and the coming and going of employees is sad. I honestly do not particularly care to work in a food based environment. Anyone who has worked in a fast food shop of any sort will know exactly what I am referring to. No more is necessary to say. All in all, everyone has bad days as well as good ones. Working in public service one has to be disciplined and realize that although we may too be having a bad day, tongues must be held until break or you
get to go home where venting freely when coming home from work is expected. The concept of ‘the customer is always right’ no matter how wrong they really are is the only thing about working there that irritates me. Sometimes you can just tell that you are being given a hard time for the sheer thrill of it. Working at Jazzman’s has given me more patience as far as realizing sometimes it takes certain people seventy five years to order a wrap. It is all about patience, courtesy and selling the product. If one can accomplish that in a matter of three minutes or less, everyone is set to go. I am grateful for my experiences working at Jazzman’s. I have met a lot of different people and talked to some that I know without a doubt would have never been picked up on my radar in any normal situation, so I am glad for that. One can make a lot of new acquaintances working in fast food or any situation where person to person contact is being induced. The only thing I can say is to take the best with the worst, it all balances out in the end.
MEREDITH CHADEAYNE GUEST WRITER MLC727@CABRINI.EDU
Talking to a commuter I realized there were many cons to commuting to Cabrini. I asked her to go further into them. The first thing that upset her was the feeling of being left out. She never knew when a dance or event was going on. I asked about the flyers in her mailbox and she informed me she didn’t have a mailbox. Apparently, this year Cabrini College took away commuter mailboxes. Not only does she not receive her campus mail but she had to change her mailing address or receive her mail from her parents who she only sees once or twice a year. Food was another con she informed me about. Jazzman’s has very good food but it is too expensive for her, and many other commuters, bank account. In between classes it is a waste of time to drive home to get something to eat and spend the rest of the time driving back and forth. Going to the library and doing some work while getting a
bite on campus is the smartest choice. I asked her why she didn’t drive to McDonalds or Wawa for something to eat. She replied with again another negative, parking. It sometimes takes fifteen minutes to find parking and then of course the time it takes to walk from the parking lot behind Dickson to the library for her class. Again, Jazzman’s and the library is the best bet. What is she to do? I myself was stuck in traffic due to an accident. I called the school so they could inform my teacher I may be late. I got to Cabrini five minutes late however spent fifteen minutes searching for parking and another five getting to my class. My lateness caused me to miss the sign-in sheet and not receive credit for the class. I tried to explain to the teacher but if he made an exception for my lateness he would have to make exceptions for everyone. There are many negatives to commuting that many are not aware of. Talking to one commuter I have learned many. What is Cabrini going to do?
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