Another perspective on "elite" educaiton

John Tierney's recent article in The Atlantic provides a nice summary of some of the latest developments in education news from the last year. In general, Tierney concludes, students in high school are spending more time stressing out, while those in college devote more time to drinking and partying than actually studying - perhaps a by-product of the excessive stress that they have endured in school? The decline in college students' overall mental well-being is also worrisome, Tierney adds, as the numbers of those who seek psychiatric care for depression and stress rise every year.

Tierney's point on the partying vs. studying ratio of America's college students can be called into question - many of US college students excel at undergraduate institutions due to the sweat of their brow, so to speak, not because of pure luck or favoritism by a professor. Although depictions of contemporary college life by modern media productions such as The Social Network certainly show us the underbelly of life at elite college campuses, drugs and drinking included.

The final point that Tierney makes about high school student life presents the juiciest tidbit for consideration. Tierney argues that, as a teacher at an elite girls' private high school, he routinely sees students waste time on Facebook, computer games, and other temptations of technology. The students are not stressed so much as distracted and lazy, Tierney concludes. Does Vicki Abeles's Race to Nowhere, a powerful documentary on the modern-day stresses of contemporary student life, then give a false portrayal of the challenges facing educators today?

Don't speak so quickly, Mr. Tierney. While the advent of technological distractions does present issues of concern, students are certainly struggling under the burden of academic performance rather than learning for its own sake. Perhaps Facebook and the iPhone simply provide channels for students to vent their frustration over a rigid, unsatisfying academic environment. If we change our schools, then maybe we can change students' attention spans and emotional health as well, and for the better.

To continue the conversation on education and our students’ future, attend the Tutorpedia Foundation’s 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011 in San Francisco. We will hear from Vicki Abeles herself, along with featured speakers Dennis Littky of Big Picture Learning and Farb Nivi of Grockit. Don't miss our exciting auction items, take part in the raffle, and try the delicious food! All proceeds from the event will benefit one-on-one tutoring for under-privileged students in the Bay Area.