Posted on 10/03/2022 7:47:56 AM PDT by karpov
In June 2014, I wrote a piece entitled “Reform Intro Economics” for Inside Higher Ed. There, I argued that then-current introductory economics courses were little changed from those of decades past. I further stated that the students of 2014 found the unrevised course somewhat unsatisfactory:
Today’s students are … not accustomed to sitting through 50-minute lectures, taking detailed notes of material and techniques, the value of which has yet to be demonstrated to them. Thus, it is little wonder that more students do not elect [to take] introductory economics or, following the course, do not take more economics.
I would argue that this student dissatisfaction persists today, perhaps at an even higher level. What I have noticed, post-pandemic, is that general student interest and student performance in introductory economics have been dropping. (I teach economics at Davidson College and have done so for more than 40 years.) I say “general student interest” because we still have some economics majors who truly enjoy the subject. However, the typical student, taking the course to satisfy a requirement or to assess a possible interest in economics, is not the equal of his or her peer from the year 2000 where course performance is concerned.
My evidence is two-fold. First, as I related in a recent Martin Center article, there may be a growing divergence between AP economics courses and those offered to first-year college students. The expectations at the college or university level seem to be falling. In other words, the AP course has actually adapted more to changing and challenging economic conditions, particularly macroeconomic ones, than has the more stagnant college-level course.
(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...
Economics causes peoples’ eyes to glaze over.
Then they’ve never had to live on a budget
Our educational system is purposely raising generations of profoundly ignorant students. To expect them to actually learn anything of substance is seen as child abuse.
Only the very bright or the very traditionally raised escape the crippling results of this.
My first economics course in college, nearly 50 years ago, was excellent. The professor was an outstanding lecturer and made the material in the textbook (which he also wrote) come to life. It was one of the few college courses that benefited me throughout my business career and life.
Here’s how you fix it. 1.) Treat students like adults. Don’t say a damn word about attendance. Don’t take attendance. Students are paying customers and if they don’t want to use what they pay for, well then, tough excrement. 2.) If any student cannot maintain a B average in mathematics, up to and including trigonometry/pre-calculus, then they have zero business being in college; regardless of major. 3.) See #1. 4.) See #1.
Rigor in education has been replaced with mollycoddling. You can blame teachers, who in turn can blame their university professors who indoctrinated instead of taught anything of substance.
Boo hoo! I had that in home school at the primary level. In fact I was only 12 when handed an old volume of Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson. That was my Econ 101.
What students want and what colleges are supposed to be selling are two very different entities. Students, in most cases, want a sheepskin that will get them more money in the workplace. Colleges are supposed to be selling the means to becoming a well-thinking, educated person. Today, practically all colleges see, not the student, but the leftist government as their main customer (via Pell Grants and student loans that are never paid back), and the indoctrinated-in-depraved-socialism student as the product the government is purchasing.
Which I heartily recommend, BTW.
Kids aren’t students or customers.
They’re just the grist for Deep State’s diploma mills.
Its because they are idiots.
Most people only have direct interaction with their government or politicians once every other year.
Everyone deals with economics every moment for the entire journey on this rock, whether you are alive or not...
He identifies 5 differences between students in years past and students now. He ignores one key difference that he’s not allowed to talk about.
For general liberal degrees, college is now a money mill. It’s toast.
Davidson is a beautiful campus in a great college town, and a short hop to Charlotte. This should be one of the most desired colleges to go to. Turn it into a Hillsdale curriculum and you’d have the perfect package.
My experience as well. The other one that surprised me was statistics, dry as all git out until you realize it reveals to you how often you're being lied to. Then it's fascinating.
hell, they’d be better off taking Home-Ec...
Maybe the professor should dress like a drag queen and “wokenize” the syllabus.
Econ 101 ought to be known as Freedom 101 snd everyone ought to be required to pass it.
My only child is enrolled at Davidson. Glad this was posted.
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