It’s that time of year when the classes start to settle down and I can see who is likely to succeed and who needs a kick up the proverbial! The trouble is I am talking about young adults who should be taking responsibility for their own futures – I am not their mother, their nursemaid or their boss. I am someone who, from time to time, tries to impart bits of knowledge and inspire them to look further at their chosen subject – you could say I am the supplier of a service. This brings me to the real point of today’s missive...the vexed question of tuition fees and the impact they have on the relationship between tutors and students.
Now I must put up a health warning here, the thoughts expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect university policy or even the opinion of my colleagues – I have not really talked to them about their views. As ever these words are the ravings of yours truly, fuelled tonight by camomile tea.
I come from the generation who did not face tuition fees but had the luxury of a grant – albeit means tested against parents’ income. I went to a girls’ grammar school and it is important to note that not everyone expected a university education. Only the very best would end up at university, the next tier might go to a polytechnic or teachers training college and others might find themselves training at one of the London teaching hospitals to become a nurse. The idea behind grants was to make it easier for anyone to go to university but it is fair to say it was not easy for the working classes to enjoy the privilege of a university education for a whole range of reasons. Anyway the point is that in those ‘olden days’ the relationship between the higher education establishment and the student was much more like that between school and pupil today. I can remember having to go and see the Principal of my college to seek permission to go home a week early because my Mum was in hospital and my Dad needed me to go home and run the house - the conversation did not go well for reasons of education and feminist ideology, but I did get my week off.
Today the students pay a fee to attend university, it does not cover the full cost of their education, but it is a contribution. This has recently caused some students at universities around the country to question what they are getting for their money – class sizes and contact time being the main issues at some of the bigger establishments. I agree this has changed the relationship to one of customer and supplier but with a big proviso, the fee is not just a monetary one.
What do I mean by that? Well, I think that students pay their fee in a number of parts. The first is the tuition fee we all know about but the other parts are less tangible. I believe the other critical parts of the transaction are to turn up to lectures and listen attentively, prepare for seminars either individually or in the relevant groups and then actively participate, read round the chosen subject according to the texts set and to find interesting material of their own and finally to submit assignments on time and completed to the best of their ability. Only when all parts of the transactions are shown to be being carried out can students start to question what they get for their fees.
Now I must close by saying I am not a fan of tuition fees. I think as a state we should pay to educate the next generation – it does mean that students who do not study would face a heightened risk being ‘slung out’ if they take the piss out of their privileged position, but that is fair enough.
4 comments:
Very interesting - I think you make some good points - especially about needing to see the pupil-lecturer relationship as being one were both sides have a responsibility and a part to play. However, and perhaps somewhat ironically, if students did the reading and prepared for class, there probably wouldn't be an issue as they wouldn't need extra contact hours and would probably end up doing really well, thus in a sense getting their moneys worth! I still think it should be seen as a privilege, though I can see that £3000 for 6 hours a week (probably taugh by a PhD student and not the lecturer in many cases) might seem a bit steep
Now in retrospect I should have done my work and learnt the theory behind my chosen career. Not skipped out, especially that time you caught me drunk and dressed as amy winehouse. I still say we need hard core intense practical training as nothing I learnt theory wise has helped me in the real world. Grunig & Hunt hasn't come in useful. But that arguement aside.
I agree about the not doing your work and getting kicked out thing, it seems like kids go to uni to get drunk for 3 years, obviously courses like golf and horse riding don't really help the fact uni is supposed to be a training ground... Perhaps raising the drinking age to 21 will curb slackers... Or actually failing them and kicking them out for skipping more than 30% of classes god knows I should have been booted out.
Very interesting! As i pay tuition fees myself i feel strongly on the issue.
I agree with Drew on the times and hours we get for our money, we have independent study... but why are we paying for that?
The loans are not enough to cover the costs, and i am pretty certain the job i have to subsidise my living costs has a huge impact on my work.
Thanks for following the student view blog too!
oh and its you jane! didnt realise!
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