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I see a substantial difference between student abilities coming out of private schools and out of public schools (esp. in the ability to read/interpret, think analytically, and in level of confidence).

Do you believe this is due to “good teaching” at private schools, or is it selection bias (smarter parents make money, have smarter kids, and can afford private schools)?

OP here, back,

I think (assertion!) it's more curricular freedom, more emphasis on deep reading, analytical reading, "reading the classics" (which can, in a way, just be careful attention to reading texts that are complex and make you think, struggle, reflect, etc., which is precisely why they seem to then excel at doing those things in college!).

How about writing skills in private vs public students?

(OP here): many more of my students who came from private schools can write really well. Overall, the level of writing skills is depressing (I also feel that way about 3/4 of the literature in my field, but I'm probably just an a$$hole).

How do you know where your students went to high school? Do you look it up? Do you ask them for this information?

Extremely weird and creepy

(OP here): "Hi, tell us about yourself, what brought you to XYZ University?" "I grew up in [state]. Went to {school} and I [sports/hobbies] and I took this class because [sometimes quite thoughtful and compelling answers]." Not sure how that is weird or creepy.

Extremely weird and creepy school/class.
Kids usually says 'I'm from NYC", I played football, I like cats".

They don't say I went to such and such high school named XYZ which is private or public.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do most faculty members treat professional staff members as “lesser than” and “the help”—especially when many staff members command higher salaries than faculty?

(OP here): Because a fair number of faculty members were trained very deeply in something few others fully grasp, and many (not all, but many) are deeply intellectual having had upbringings with little attention to other material or logistical pursuits, and often then can't pull their heads out to see how much others are also pursuing interests, doing good, struggling, and/or not recognizing that the faculty member is not the sole center of the world. Narcissism abounds! I also have incredibly empathetic, caring, and wonderful colleagues. They are fewer in number than the narcissists.

Anonymous wrote:Is college harder now than it was 20 years ago? I graduated in 1999, and I don’t remember it being intense. Yes I had all nighters, writing papers and exams, but it was a lot of reading, discussing, learning ideas, taking interesting classes.

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I see a substantial difference between student abilities coming out of private schools and out of public schools (esp. in the ability to read/interpret, think analytically, and in level of confidence).

Do you believe this is due to “good teaching” at private schools, or is it selection bias (smarter parents make money, have smarter kids, and can afford private schools)?

OP here, back,

I think (assertion!) it's more curricular freedom, more emphasis on deep reading, analytical reading, "reading the classics" (which can, in a way, just be careful attention to reading texts that are complex and make you think, struggle, reflect, etc., which is precisely why they seem to then excel at doing those things in college!).

How about writing skills in private vs public students?

(OP here): many more of my students who came from private schools can write really well. Overall, the level of writing skills is depressing (I also feel that way about 3/4 of the literature in my field, but I'm probably just an a$$hole).

How do you know where your students went to high school? Do you look it up? Do you ask them for this information?

Extremely weird and creepy

(OP here): "Hi, tell us about yourself, what brought you to XYZ University?" "I grew up in [state]. Went to {school} and I [sports/hobbies] and I took this class because [sometimes quite thoughtful and compelling answers]." Not sure how that is weird or creepy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many years have you been teaching?

What changes have you seen in students over the years?

I taught a number of years during grad school at a big research uni (not my own), three years at my phd institution (top of the top) and then 13 years where I am now.

Overall, the students seem to have greater pressure to succeed financially. At the same time, the paths to that success are much more diverse. 15 years ago, it was clear tracks to big consulting firms, or banks, or other similarly defined institutions. Now the tech bulge has blown all that up. There are students who think they can do startups, live in the Maldives, and make billions.

Overall, students' abilities to interpret texts and analyze ideas has PLUMMETED.

They seem afraid. Honestly afraid that the world is on the precipice of falling apart.

At the same time, I'm honestly blown away by how much intellectual ability many of them have. If it can be shaped and directed in good ways, we have some hope for the future.

Also, general note: I see a substantial difference between student abilities coming out of private schools and out of public schools (esp. in the ability to read/interpret, think analytically, and in level of confidence). There are some standout public school students, but the numbers of top private school students outweigh the numbers of public school students (caveat: total anecdotal evidence from my own limited experience, but it's been consistently the case over 20 years).

This made me sad, but it's what I see in my college kid. Afraid and depressed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many years have you been teaching?

What changes have you seen in students over the years?

I taught a number of years during grad school at a big research uni (not my own), three years at my phd institution (top of the top) and then 13 years where I am now.

Overall, the students seem to have greater pressure to succeed financially. At the same time, the paths to that success are much more diverse. 15 years ago, it was clear tracks to big consulting firms, or banks, or other similarly defined institutions. Now the tech bulge has blown all that up. There are students who think they can do startups, live in the Maldives, and make billions.

Overall, students' abilities to interpret texts and analyze ideas has PLUMMETED.

They seem afraid. Honestly afraid that the world is on the precipice of falling apart.

At the same time, I'm honestly blown away by how much intellectual ability many of them have. If it can be shaped and directed in good ways, we have some hope for the future.

Also, general note: I see a substantial difference between student abilities coming out of private schools and out of public schools (esp. in the ability to read/interpret, think analytically, and in level of confidence). There are some standout public school students, but the numbers of top private school students outweigh the numbers of public school students (caveat: total anecdotal evidence from my own limited experience, but it's been consistently the case over 20 years).

Anonymous wrote:Why?

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Anonymous wrote:How do you know which high schools your students came from? Is this a very small school? I don’t think a professor ever asked me that info.

They never ask this question. This prof is looking it up or having the students reveal this.

Not the OP, but also a professor. I have access to transcripts and SAT/ACT/AP scores. I don’t actively look at my students records. However, I do see the info because I advise majors and sometimes, if I have a struggling student I look at their transcript and standardized test scores.

Do you think you are biased in evaluating your students based on what you know about their high school education?

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

I see a substantial difference between student abilities coming out of private schools and out of public schools (esp. in the ability to read/interpret, think analytically, and in level of confidence).

Do you believe this is due to “good teaching” at private schools, or is it selection bias (smarter parents make money, have smarter kids, and can afford private schools)?

OP here, back,

I think (assertion!) it's more curricular freedom, more emphasis on deep reading, analytical reading, "reading the classics" (which can, in a way, just be careful attention to reading texts that are complex and make you think, struggle, reflect, etc., which is precisely why they seem to then excel at doing those things in college!).

How about writing skills in private vs public students?

(OP here): many more of my students who came from private schools can write really well. Overall, the level of writing skills is depressing (I also feel that way about 3/4 of the literature in my field, but I'm probably just an a$$hole).

How do you know where your students went to high school? Do you look it up? Do you ask them for this information?

Extremely weird and creepy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no way your salary is what you report it to be, even with an admin component.

Signed,
Social sciences prof who sees salary comparisons across all schools

(OP here): you see averages in those comparisons. I see the faculty in my purview and I'm not an anomaly.

DP and I believe this. I work in grants and see salaries like this at wealthy private schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know which high schools your students came from? Is this a very small school? I don’t think a professor ever asked me that info.

They never ask this question. This prof is looking it up or having the students reveal this.

Not the OP, but also a professor. I have access to transcripts and SAT/ACT/AP scores. I don’t actively look at my students records. However, I do see the info because I advise majors and sometimes, if I have a struggling student I look at their transcript and standardized test scores.

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to college and suffered the start of a serious mental illness—schizophrenia. There was no prior history of this illness. I was very upset at how the college managed the issue, since child also had rapidly declining executive function and energy levels.

Any thoughts OP on how to better handle mental health?

Anonymous wrote:Would you recommend student pursue a humanities major?