Failures of Early American Higher Education :: essays research papers fc

The Failures of Early American Higher EducationThe intention of colleges in the United Stated during the 18th and 19th centuries was to create a remains that would serve in loco parentis (in place of the parent). In the early days of American higher education, college professors sought to be disciplinarians, who played a maternal(p) role. However, the students at these institutions often behaved in a disruptive manner towards teachers, as well as fellow students. This unruly behavior can be directly linked to the economic background of the students attending these institutions, in increment to the philosophies set forth by the colleges. During this time period, colleges attracted mostly upper caste men who showed little interest in their academic studies. They were individuals following generations of family members to the institution, and as a result of their connections possessed more authority at the train than the faculty. This issue began to change in the early 20th centu ry, when colleges began admitting more economically diverse individuals. The economic background of the students, in addition to their reluctance to substantiate by the rules, led to violent and unruly behavior at these institutions. Students who attend these institutions of higher education were typically born into a wealthy family, where the individuals already had made a name for themselves. They survived college, as disruptive students, because college was not a necessity for them to succeed in life. Referring to Harvard College, in his familys newspaper, the New England Curant, in 1677, Benjamin Franklin wrote that it had become a rich mans school, a place that wealthy parents sent their sons to, where, for want of a suitable genius, they pick out little more than to carry themselves handsomely, and enter a room genteely (Lucas, p. 109). former to the American Revolution, higher education did not impact the majority of the muckle first hand. It is estimated that no more th an one in every gramme colonists attended any college present before 1776 (Lucas, p. 109). This supports the idea that college was only operable to those individuals who had enough money to attend college simply for the ability to move up the social ladder. Many individuals went to college, not for the education, but to continue a customs duty set forth by generations of family members. They did not take college seriously, for it was simply the neighboring step, in order to follow through along the path that their family members had paved.