Reply to If doing research in high school is unfair and puts poorer students at a disadvantage, what extracurriculars are fair?

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Reply to "If doing research in high school is unfair and puts poorer students at a disadvantage, what extracurriculars are fair?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Reading this thread — and honestly this forum in general — makes me question what the mission and purpose of college really is anymore.

I keep thinking about what kids are being put through from K–12. Are we helping them become competent adults, or just stressed, selfish, and resentful ones? If students are already taking endless AP classes in high school, [b]what exactly are they supposed to learn in college[/b]? If a child is doing research and taking Calculus III at an incredibly young age, why is college even necessary? And if someone is already deeply committed to sports or music at a professional level, how much additional value does college really add to their life? Shouldn’t they just focus on becoming professionals in their field instead?[/quote]
Of course colleges are necessary.  Stanford and MIT have put all their classes online, so anyone can learn any topic free of tuition.  Obviously you don't just go there to take classes.  Kids still go to college for like-minded peers, opportunities provided by top colleges, and a social environment during their formative years.  You'd be surprised that these kids are not "stressed, selfish, and resentful", quite the opposite.[/quote]

This is what I read yesterday from NYTimes about Stanford. If this is the learning you are talking about.

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Money in Silicon Valley has become a game of almost meaningless numbers bandied about in a breathtakingly casual manner. It contributes to the whirlpool effect students at Stanford have felt around tech and lucre — if your roommate can drop out and start a nine-figure company, why shouldn’t you profit, too? Why put all your energy into being a student when it seems like everyone around you is getting rich? One time during sophomore year, I was working on homework in my dorm common room with an acquaintance when she offhandedly remarked, “I bought a house in Las Vegas last week.” She continued, “It’s good for taxes.” It’s hard to put your earbuds in and get right back to your problem set when someone says something like that.
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Are they the "stressed, selfish, and resentful" kids you described?

And if you don't like Stanford, what kind of learning environment you would like your kids to have?  [/quote]

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