I had a conversation today with one of my colleagues about one of our English majors who has decided to leave our university for another. We are disturbed by this student’s decision, though we understand her reasons, because she is one of the more talented of the new crop of majors. However, she feels that our school does not offer her the intellectual atmosphere that she dreamed of when she thought of college. When she visited a friend at a high-powered New England liberal arts college, all of the things she craved were there–the lofty philosophical discussions, the interest in politics, the acceptance of differences, the fact that it’s cool to be smart. Here–not so much. She is tired of the girls calling each other “bitch” and “whore” as if it’s a cool thing as they gossip about how, like, totally wasted they got last night, omfg! Or how they’re, like, totally into, like, Abercrombie? And shopping? And, omg! can you totally believe how stupid that prof is! What’s with that stupid earring?! And the hair?
Today, another student came to my office hours to talk about her paper and various other class concerns. As we were talking, Angela, one of my TAs, dropped by. Kate was talking about what a true geek she is, because she was very excited about going to a Barnes and Noble with her mom (and, yes, I’m lucky, because these are the students who gravitate toward my classes and office hours), and because she just loves bookstores. Angela leaped from her chair, her eyes sparkling and mouth open in a huge grin, to give Kate an enormous hug. Kate, recovering her poise, then asked if we had any book suggestions. Before I could open my mouth, Angela rattled off three or four must-reads, which Kate dutifully wrote down.
All of which makes me think: We are somehow failing our students, if being smart in college is still seen as something you just should not talk about. It’s like an unpleasant odor–it would be rude to mention it, and if we plaster a fake, glassy smile to our mugs and talk about trivial matters, maybe it will just go away. There is only so much I can do to combat this. I can try to present interesting and exciting lessons, and I can project an interest in reading and intellectual ideas, but, really the cool factor of a 40-year-old professor is pretty low. Low to nonexistent. So I am not exactly the model that the too-cool-for-school fools want to emulate.
On the other hand, some students do want that intellectual stimulation. I’ve been thinking about how to provide it outside the classroom. As I was driving home tonight, I had an idea that is either pretty interesting or terribly stupid, but maybe it’s so stupid it’s smart.
This is it: A bookstore tour. No, wait a minute and hear me out. There are a lot of interesting old bookstores around New England, with a couple of them right here in my town. Why not get a group of four or five interested students and spend a Saturday carpooling to someplace like this, which is truly an awesome, funky, weird, and well-stocked store? Or this place? Or this one? Or make it an epic field trip and go here for 18 miles of books?
What do you think? Stupid? Smart? Missing the point entirely?
Your post made me very happy hobgoblin! What a lovely post, and what a great idea — a bookstore tour! Count me in 🙂
Wonderful! I would have been thrilled to go on a trip like this. Cool factor? Like, stratospheric.
I think if one of my professors had offered me a book store tour, I would have been thrilled. Great idea, Hob.
I think the bookstore tour is a wonderful idea – good on you for thinking of it.
I have a comment on what you said about profs/schools failing their students – I am not sure this is true. I think professors and schools are all still very interested in education and academic life, at creating intellectual spaces. But I get the sense that American culture has failed these students by making them believe that going to college is necessary in the first place. I don’t think that a college education is for everyone but it has become necessary in America because we stopped valuing a lot of professions. I don’t gush about Swiss culture (where I live) too much but there is one thing that I think Switzerland does well and that’s educating people and valuing ALL professions. Most kids don’t go on to and academic college – the majority of them move into apprenticeships at the age of 16 where they study anything from baking to banking…they get hands on experience coupled with theory classes. They have to keep up in general subjects like math and history and French/German/Italian but they do so much more applied work. And when they’re finished they have jobs. Good jobs that pay very well – even shop work and florists pay well here because they value the training that the workers have gone through. Like all systems it isn’t perfect but its pretty good and only those with an intellectual/academic commitment continue in secondary school and move on to college.
I would have loved if one of my teachers had this idea. And these places really look cool (much more than a B&N…)! Go for it!
My God – 18 miles of books and I’m just wishing I could come with you. What I think will really touch the student’s hearts is that you took the time and trouble to come up with the idea and organise it for them. Now that’s student-teacher bonding.
Not a stupid idea at all. For whatever reason, the South does not appear to have many of the more interesting of used bookstores. Even today I use “Strand Books” to research the availability of many used and out of print books.
You would have to come up with a brilliant bookstore tour idea now that I’ve moved and can’t easily join you :-).