The Library

whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
edited September 2012 in A Moving Train
There are many nights when I am in the library at my university until 11, 12, or even 1 in the morning.

Why is it when I walk around the library looking for a book or to use the john, or when I leave, do I see an overwhelming percentage of Asians, Indians, and/or Middle Easterns?
Now, my school has a lot of exchange students; it has really good programs for those coming in and for Americans students to study abroad. I think foreign students make up about 10% of the student body (out of roughly 14,000). And, I realize that the foreign student body is made up of mainly overachieving students or those whose families have the $$ to send them to the states, and that this contributes to their motivation and work ethic, but where are the American students?
I see the same type of discrepancy in the classes I teach.

To quote Pink Floyd: "Wot's, uh, the deal?"
Post edited by Unknown User on

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  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,411
    whygohome wrote:
    There are many nights when I am in the library at my university until 11, 12, or even 1 in the morning.

    Why is it when I walk around the library looking for a book or to use the john, or when I leave, do I see an overwhelming percentage of Asians, Indians, and/or Middle Easterns?
    Now, my school has a lot of exchange students; it has really good programs for those coming in and for Americans students to study abroad. I think foreign students make up about 10% of the student body (out of roughly 14,000). And, I realize that the foreign student body is made up of mainly overachieving students or those whose families have the $$ to send them to the states, and that this contributes to their motivation and work ethic, but where are the American students?
    I see the same type of discrepancy in the classes I teach.

    To quote Pink Floyd: "Wot's, uh, the deal?"

    Probably trying to avoid all the noise that frat boys are making and get some studying done. :lol:
    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    brianlux wrote:
    whygohome wrote:
    There are many nights when I am in the library at my university until 11, 12, or even 1 in the morning.

    Why is it when I walk around the library looking for a book or to use the john, or when I leave, do I see an overwhelming percentage of Asians, Indians, and/or Middle Easterns?
    Now, my school has a lot of exchange students; it has really good programs for those coming in and for Americans students to study abroad. I think foreign students make up about 10% of the student body (out of roughly 14,000). And, I realize that the foreign student body is made up of mainly overachieving students or those whose families have the $$ to send them to the states, and that this contributes to their motivation and work ethic, but where are the American students?
    I see the same type of discrepancy in the classes I teach.

    To quote Pink Floyd: "Wot's, uh, the deal?"

    Probably trying to avoid all the noise that frat boys are making and get some studying done. :lol:

    Maybe so, but it is also a sad commentary on the state of education in this country. Anyway, the boob tube is summoning me.......
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,156
    The Asian culture is very demanding of studies and education. The society and parents put great pressure on their kids.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    Jason P wrote:
    The Asian culture is very demanding of studies and education. The society and parents put great pressure on their kids.

    Are you saying it goes too far? It wouldn't be an inaccurate statement.
    Can we also say that American parents aren't involved enough in their children's education?
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,156
    whygohome wrote:
    Jason P wrote:
    The Asian culture is very demanding of studies and education. The society and parents put great pressure on their kids.

    Are you saying it goes too far? It wouldn't be an inaccurate statement.
    Can we also say that American parents aren't involved enough in their children's education?
    I think a happy medium could be found between the American and Asian cultures.

    My friend growing up was first generation Indian and his dad put a lot of pressure on him. He would quiz him each night before he went to bed. We were both going into engineering and when he found out he would start quizzing me. It's not fun being put on the spotlight with a stern man asking you what the square root of 1,764 is out of the blue.

    American culture motto is try your hardest. Asian culture motto is perfection.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    Jason P wrote:
    whygohome wrote:
    Jason P wrote:
    The Asian culture is very demanding of studies and education. The society and parents put great pressure on their kids.

    Are you saying it goes too far? It wouldn't be an inaccurate statement.
    Can we also say that American parents aren't involved enough in their children's education?
    I think a happy medium could be found between the American and Asian cultures.

    My friend growing up was first generation Indian and his dad put a lot of pressure on him. He would quiz him each night before he went to bed. We were both going into engineering and when he found out he would start quizzing me. It's not fun being put on the spotlight with a stern man asking you what the square root of 1,764 is out of the blue.

    American culture motto is try your hardest. Asian culture motto is perfection.

    42

    Unfortunately, "try your hardest" doesn't translate into success. I see the failures of our education system as more a cultural problem that anything else. My friends and family members who teach all say that parents are a big part of the problem and that dealing with them is the worst part of the job.

    No quick fix though......we keep sliding down the world rankings.....
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,156
    whygohome wrote:
    Unfortunately, "try your hardest" doesn't translate into success. I see the failures of our education system as more a cultural problem that anything else. My friends and family members who teach all say that parents are a big part of the problem and that dealing with them is the worst part of the job.

    No quick fix though......we keep sliding down the world rankings.....
    Maybe someone with Asian descent can chime in. I only know what I read and the small interactions I have with people that live in India or China, but from what I understand most people are married before 25 and the divorce rate is very low. America has a lot of single mothers that never got married to begin with and the divorce rate is at 50%.

    (which is why I'm scared of getting married. on one side of the coin you could both grow old in the comfort of each other's arms OR in four years you may go through the most bitter experience of your life and your assets will be cut in half ... god forbid you have any children ... so which is it, heads or tails?).

    With so much information available, America should be doing better. I was able to get a good education armed only with a Trapper Keeper and the Encyclopedia Britannica. Now, there's an app for that.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • We should allow those great foreign student to stay in the US instead of them taking their skills "back home".
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    2012 SAT Reading Scores Lowest Since 1972

    http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/201 ... since-1972

    USA!! USA!! USA!!
  • Aren't you a teacher?
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    Aren't you a teacher?

    At a university; as you likely don't know, the SAT is taken in high school. Nice try though. Keep it up, tough guy.
  • Aren't you a teacher?


    :lol:
  • whygohome wrote:
    Aren't you a teacher?

    At a university; as you likely don't know, the SAT is taken in high school. Nice try though. Keep it up, tough guy.


    PLEASE tell us which one!! holy shit......
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    whygohome wrote:
    Aren't you a teacher?

    At a university; as you likely don't know, the SAT is taken in high school. Nice try though. Keep it up, tough guy.


    PLEASE tell us which one!! holy shit......

    Flagged and reported.
    A baiting post, a thinly veiled insult.

    If we met in person, you would never have the guts to insult me like this.
  • why do your posts seem to be on the verge of assaulting? Are you looking to fight someone?

    settle down.
  • whygohome wrote:

    Flagged and reported.


    Really? :roll:

    I think it's pretty egotistical to think that all students should be in the library when you are.

    Plenty of studying to be done at other times and other places. With the internet, the library is a little outdated anyhow. And there is a thing called balance in life. I suspect those in the library every night till 1AM have little or none.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • :lol:

    You post you work at a university.

    I ask which one.

    You report me?


    All in a thread which has no other point than to ask, "Hey whats up with all the colored people in the Library?"


    Keep up the good work, Professor.
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    why do your posts seem to be on the verge of assaulting? Are you looking to fight someone?

    settle down.

    Who's posts are on the verge of assaulting? Take a look in the mirror.
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    whygohome wrote:

    Flagged and reported.


    Really? :roll:

    I think it's pretty egotistical to think that all students should be in the library when you are.

    Plenty of studying to be done at other times and other places. With the internet, the library is a little outdated anyhow. And there is a thing called balance in life. I suspect those in the library every night till 1AM have little or none.

    Not at all what I am saying with this post. It's part of a larger commentary
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    edited September 2012
    :lol:

    You post you work at a university.

    I ask which one.

    You report me?


    All in a thread which has no other point than to ask, "Hey whats up with all the colored people in the Library?"


    Keep up the good work, Professor.

    Miss the point much?

    Was I really saying "Hey whats up with all the colored people in the Library?" Or, was I making a larger statement on education in this country.
    Thanks you for accusing me of being a racist though.

    Think once in a while. It helps
    Post edited by whygohome on
  • whygohome wrote:
    :lol:

    You post you work at a university.

    I ask which one.

    You report me?


    All in a thread which has no other point than to ask, "Hey whats up with all the colored people in the Library?"


    Keep up the good work, Professor.

    Miss the point much?

    Was I really saying "Hey whats up with all the colored people in the Library?" Or, was I making a larger statement on education in this country.

    Think once in a while. It helps

    Good. Lets try thinking right now.

    You're the University Professor.... why don't you explain it? Your thread title is slightly obtuse, wouldn't you say?
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    whygohome wrote:
    :lol:

    You post you work at a university.

    I ask which one.

    You report me?


    All in a thread which has no other point than to ask, "Hey whats up with all the colored people in the Library?"


    Keep up the good work, Professor.

    Miss the point much?

    Was I really saying "Hey whats up with all the colored people in the Library?" Or, was I making a larger statement on education in this country.

    Think once in a while. It helps

    Good. Lets try thinking right now.

    You're the University Professor.... why don't you explain it? Your thread title is slightly obtuse, wouldn't you say?

    You can look past the title........too difficult?
  • A teacher is the one in the best position to damnd more from all their students.
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    A teacher is the one in the best position to damnd more from all their students.

    What is damnd?

    And, a teacher does. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the student. Students earn grades.
  • i am sorry, i meant to say deemaned.
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    i am sorry, i meant to say deemaned.

    Ah, I see.
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