BTP's Kara Miller lands in the spotlight

Kara Miller!
Kara Miller!
Who could blame you?
You were done in
By that wretched Boston Globe!
So you blame them
Yes you blame them
For your problems!
(And the title they assigned to your prose)
You don’t fool us (for a second)
Kara Miller!
Your rhetoric is as opaque as panty-hose.
Could it be that you’re just a lousy teacher?
And student snoring,
Is caused by boring?
Are sweeping generalizations
Your bête noir Kara Miller?
This story is so dead it makes me hold my nose.

Thanks, Kara, for writing about this issue! As a high school teacher, I see the same thing. While I do have some very hardworking American students, the majority pale in comparison with foreign exchange students I have had. A recent student of mine from Germany consistently scored higher grades than my native-speaking, college prep students because she was exceptionally disciplined and never took for granted her considerable ability. Having visited a German school myself, I think part of the reason why is that, in Germany at least, only a portion of kids make the grade to go to a college prep high school. Their ability to succeed in college is determined by the time they are 12 years old, and in some cases, earlier. Here in America, especially of late, we expect pretty much everyone to get a college degree, and I think a lot of us would be offended by the notion of a child of 10's future be ing mapped out at such an early age. We don't weed students out, which may help explain why international students who come from educational systems like Germany's are more disciplined. Which is not to say the German system is better across the board - there are certainly positive and negative aspects to both the American and German educational philosophies. But certainly amongst my colleagues, the matter of students' lack of ownership/responsibility for their studies is constantly discussed.

I guess that Greater Boston was trying to keep the animosity on a high pitch, likely in order to generate more buzz for themselves. I work in the Learning Center of a small college near Babson, with American , International, and immigrant students, and really cannot generalize. When I encounter a student who has poor study skills, I try to respond not by merely extending deadlines, but mentoring them to improve their academic abilities all round. That said, I was extremely annoyed by several aspects of your discussion: (1) Ms. Miller, please do not use "schizophrenic" to mean "opposing" -- that is a lazy and inconsiderate use of the term (and even then, "bi-polar" would be more accurate; (2) Emily -- your dismissal of the Babson's student's piece in the Globe was amazingly rude; apparently you were too lazy to read her 1000 words, which were thoughtful and well-reasoned.
Well, not that you have my blood pressure elevated, I shall breathe and meditate on the fact that I have 4 more days till the second semester starts and I must face my students, and even worse, some of the professors.

The key factor that was missing in your discussion today (and missing from the U.S. immigration debate in general) is that immigrants are often among the brightest and the best in their homeland. Navigating the intricacies of the U.S. legal immigration process is not for the lazy or uneducated. Even "illegal" immigrants have to be highly motivated to risk entry into the U.S. Add the difficulty of working in a foreign language, i.e. English, and you can appreciate why foreign students pay attention in class, seek advice on improving their work, and perform at a higher level - the risk of failing is returning home in disgrace.

MY CYBER SAVVY U.S. STUDENTS
I teach acting to MA, RI, and NH students who are required to memorize lines and rehearse with their scene partners. The long distances that separate them only allow rehearsal time just before class. Typically, when I enter the classroom I find them all texting. On one occasion I walked in on a lone student who was reading a book and laughing. I was shocked. I asked him what he was reading and he said, “’The Miser’, by Moliere”. I asked, “Which translation?” He said, “No translation, I’m reading it in French”. Guess where he was from? Hint: It was not the U.S. By his own admission, he was an average student in his native country. His family fled to save their lives. You’re on to something, Kara.

Kudo's to Ms. Miller for standing up for herself and for her opinions. Her responses to the panelists' takes on the controversy were handled well and logically.

She is a great addition to the show.

This weeks group of Crossley, Miller, Sciacca, and Rielly make for a lively, well-informed team.

"(1) Ms. Miller, please do not use "schizophrenic" to mean "opposing" -- that is a lazy and inconsiderate use of the term"

Thus underscoring Emily's point about the PC nature of today's college campus.

We all know what she meant.

But some folks are just looking for ways to be offended.

Dear Kara Miller,
As my grandpa used to say, to do anything well in life when the going gets tough you have to have “a fire in your belly and build up a full head of steam”. College isn’t any different. The students who truly want to learn – for whatever reason – are always the ones who consistently excel in most of their subjects.
In my case, I did not have a good attitude toward academic work the first time I attended college. But after getting drafted and participating in enough daily death during our last “forever war”, I swore that if I survived and returned to college the school administration may throw me out because they didn’t like my opinions, but by God they would not flunk me out! (For a fresh perspective on that topic I suggest you read today’s New York Times story, “With New G.I. Bill, More March from Battlefield to College”, by Lisa W. Foderaro.) Unlike many of my friends, I was lucky enough to return to college, but this time around I had a raging fire in my belly and plenty of steam.
Ultimately, I earned an Ocean Engineering degree from M.I.T., and then went off to work in industry, while trying not to dwell on the bitter past of my wasted youth. Now that I am much older, I have been to a few of my college reunions, and I have had a few candid conversations with my old college professors. To my surprise, my professors told me that they knew even before the first semester was over upon my return, that this time I would make it. I was told that often I was a frustrating challenge to teach, had the civility of a pissed off Cape Buffalo, and that I could come up with questions that appeared on the surface to be merely inane or insane - but upon inspection were so original and deep that they had no choice but to challenge themselves to grow as we attempted to find answers. They told me I could come back and take a class with them anytime, and they prayed every semester for students like I was – the second time around!
I also have come to the conclusion that the college experience is often wasted by young adults who have mature bodies, but childish attitudes. So the real question remains, of how to inspire that slacker college student, so that they get a fire in their belly and build up a full head of steam that will propel them to excel throughout college - and life.
Regards,
Mark R. Whitney
January 9, 2009

Miller's article was illogical and, frankly, not very smart. I, too, teach at the college level, and I too feel frustrated--on occasion--by students who carry a sense of "entitlement" and seem uncommitted to the work. But the work ethic of a student has nothing to do with nationality. Which is why the article was so--I'm sorry--silly. Every semester, I have international students who perform at sub-par levels, and American students who excel. So what, really, was the point of the article?