Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Can someone please explain the animus towards community colleges?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU
 
DerekG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:18 PM
Original message
Can someone please explain the animus towards community colleges?
While it is unfortunate that we on the DU are met with the occasional tirade from a freeper or troll, I find it more disconcerting that a DUer will inevitably question the poster's educational background and plant the words "community college" or "city college" with the intention to insult.

I realize that these DUers are in the minority, but I find it sad, nevertheless, that one of the most democratic institutions in the country (nearly equal to public libraries) is disparaged by supposed "progressives." Isn't it a bit aristocratic to denigrate a place where social class is often eschewed; where single mothers, immigrants, and working-class children can seek higher education?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
KissMyAsscroft Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:25 PM
Response to Original message
1. Most people I know...
Spent their first 2 years in Community College before heading off to Universities and a few of those people are now in Ivy League schools...so yeah, I agree completely..
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Spinzonner Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:26 PM
Response to Original message
2. Can someone please explain 'animus'
Edited on Mon Jun-07-04 05:26 PM by Spinzonner
as used by these wordmongers who refuse to eschew elite language and instead use ordinary everyday language that single mothers, immigrants, and working-class children can understand ...

:-)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DerekG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:42 PM
Response to Reply #2
9. Better that it's the language than the ethos...
I don't mean to rub anyone the wrong way, but my writing style is formal. Bu then again, this is the Lounge.

:P


Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Sporadicus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:28 PM
Response to Original message
3. Snobbish, to Say the Least
Community colleges meet all academic standards, are accredited, and their credits transfer to 4-year institutions (especially state-run schools) in practically all instances. Any so-called progressive who disparages this form of education should reexamine his/her values.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
OKNancy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:55 PM
Response to Reply #3
23. LOL - " Snobs R Us"
Edited on Mon Jun-07-04 07:19 PM by OKNancy
Well, DU is filled with elitists of every stripe. Food snobs, movie snobs, t.v. snobs, computer snobs, clothing snobs, housing snobs, location snobs...you name it, we've got it.

My daughter goes to a community college because we can't afford for her to go away, even on scholarship.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Bluzmann57 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:31 PM
Response to Original message
4. Well, I went to a community College
so I guess I'm one of the "great unwashed" or something like that. In my case, 1- I hated high School and was REAL happy to get out, and 2- I had a child so I couldn't really afford to go to a "regular" college. Community Colleges offer University level classes and are fine institutions.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nlighten1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:33 PM
Response to Original message
5. The best part of my mis-education came from a CC
I highly recommend them! Smaller classes, better parking, mine had better teachers and less expensive! What is not to love about them?

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JustFiveMoreMinutes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:38 PM
Response to Original message
6. Hmm, same reason some little men drive big cars?
Maybe?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bubblesby2002 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:39 PM
Response to Original message
7. Vancouver's Langara Community College.....
gave me the best education ever: learned how to drink beer, smoke, play cards, and party.

But seriously I got a good education from there and a diploma in Real Estate Appraisal. Plus all the academic credits are transferable to UBC or Simon Fraser. So I'm happy.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ernesto Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:39 PM
Response to Original message
8. 2 of the best years of my life
were spent @ Shasta College near Redding Ca. Coming from a diss functional home, my HS grades were theeee worst. After running away to the Asian resort known as Vietnam, I took my GI bill & moved to Redding where I later joined the "Young Democrats". Lots of remedial classes & lots of units. 2 years later I got a scholarship for highest GPA by a returning vet. After that it was the U. of Minnesota for me. Comunity college was great in my case!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Pithlet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 05:59 PM
Response to Original message
10. Snobs
My first two years were at a CC. I actually think it can be a better education in some respects. The classes were smaller so you get more one on one attention, for one thing. Socially, I liked it better, too. You don't have that fraternity/sorority cliquishness, and things are a bit more laid back. I really enjoyed it. I think those who belittle it are insecure, elitist jerks.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SOteric Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:00 PM
Response to Original message
11. I wouldn't let it bother me to much if I were you.
In fact that kind of pretense and snobbery can be a useful tool in sorting out who you'll most enjoy and learn from in reading on the boards.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lolly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:05 PM
Response to Original message
12. Have taught at CC and Universities
Snobbery probably comes from the fact that CCs are generally someplace you go to if you can't (yet) get into a 4-year college or can't pay for it.

Don't know where all the talk about "smaller class sizes" comes from, however. My writing Classes in my CC are, literally, twice as big as university writing classes. As a consequence, I can't assign as many papers, can't pay as much individual attention to the students.

Perhaps the "lecture" classes are smaller, however, which would make those professors more accessible.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Pithlet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:19 PM
Response to Reply #12
15. In my case
it was because I went to a satellite campus in a more rural setting that had just opened up. I should have realized that larger ones probably have class sizes comparable to 4 year colleges.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Bunny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:07 PM
Response to Original message
13. I've never seen it.
And I've been here since the beginning. Can you possibly post some links? Seriously, this has to be a pretty rare occurrance.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DerekG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:19 PM
Response to Reply #13
16. Like I said, they are a minority...
I've been a member since 2001 May, and these comments have surfaced on occasion (up to this very Saturday, when a high-poster--and I won't mention the name--used a community college remark to insult an 11-post troll who was lurking on a Reagan death thread).

I concur that it's rare--but not rare enough for a progressive community.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
djeseru Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:08 PM
Response to Original message
14. Changed my life.
For the better, in more ways than I can think right now. Helped me to figure out people socially, found out that I was an artist, met my best frined there...etc, etc...high school was such a pathetic time for me. I had never had such a well-rounded experience as community college.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BigMcLargehuge Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:25 PM
Response to Original message
17. Nobody better start shit about community colleges on my watch!
he hardest two years of my secondary education took place at Cape Cod Community College. I learned to LOVE learning there. The skills I learned at CCCC set me up to breeze through, and excell in, the last two years of undergrad work at New England College.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ikojo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:30 PM
Response to Original message
18. I think much of the animus toward community colleges is
due to class bias. Most community colleges have an open admissions policy, meaning anyone with a pulse can get in. They also tend to attract more working class and commuter students.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SmileyBoy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:33 PM
Response to Original message
19. I spent 2 1/2 years at a technical college before transferring.
But I've never heard that type of thing used as an insult.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bicentennial_baby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:38 PM
Response to Original message
20. I attend an excellent CC here in MA
and when I hear people on DU do that it does hurt my feelings a tad. I go there b/c after 2 years, I automatically get into UMASS Amherst and only have to attend for 2 more years to get my BS. It's called the Commonwealth Transfer Compact. I decided to go here initially b/c it's close to home and I was a non-traditional student getting back into the school scene.

I love my school. We have excellent teachers and students. This year I had classmates from Brazil, Bolivia, Pakistan, Jamaica, and my history teacher next semester is from Ghana. If I hadn't attended my school I would have never fallen in love with PoliSci, with the assistance and inspiration of my favorite teacher, Jason.

All the elitist snobs here at DU can KMA, so to speak. :thumbsdown:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SarahB Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:43 PM
Response to Original message
21. Silly stuff
Both my husband and I got into very good colleges when we were 18, but money got in the way of going, so we both started at community colleges. Not everyone has parents who can help (or who are willing to help) and are often in situations where they have to go part-time or at night. This makes it possible. I would have loved to have been in the environment of a big university when I was 18- new ideas, more opportunities, but life took a different turn. Doesn't make me any less than anyone else. Do I resent the fact that I had the best SAT scores out of all my high school friends and they all got to go to private four year universities and not me? I admit, at times, yes.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Burma Jones Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:49 PM
Response to Original message
22. I went to a Community College
Then I transferred to a fairly prestigious College (Knox) for my B.A. in Theatre, Then an MS in Computer Science and finally a PhD in Computer Science.

This all started at a Community College, Montgomery College in Rockville, MD to be precise. This is where I had the opportunity to play with Count Basie because one of the staff there was an arranger of his. This is where Montgomery County Police went to school amongst the pot smoke filled cafeteria and lounge rooms. This was a good school if you made it such and anyone looking down their nose at Community Colleges can match wits with me, I'll bitch-slap them back to Princeton.......

I had high SAT scores (1410), but under a 2.0 GPA in High School. So, no University would accept me, I had to go to an open admissions College to prove that I could make some good grades.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
vi5 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 06:56 PM
Response to Original message
24. Idiotic snobbery...no other explanation....
It's sad.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
fujiyama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 07:02 PM
Response to Original message
25. Community Colleges
truly are one of the greatest parts, if not THE greatest part about American higher education.

In most countries, people don't have a second chance to get a higher education. If you screw up an exam at the end of HS, you're screwed. You have no chance of getting a bachelors. CCs are about as democratic as it gets. They also provide an affordable way for many people to get an education in the first place. They provide an opportunity for many to fix old mistakes, or start over in some cases.

I'll use myself as an example. After I graduated from HS, I attended a four year institution. I was a slacker, and I ended up flunking out. I attended a community college for a few semesters, was able to get my GPA up, and transferred back to a four year college. I'm planning on graduating with a bachelors in electrical engineering in two semesters. The people I met at CCs were no less intelligent, no less motivated, and no less capable than those I've met at the two four year schools I've been to.

Same goes with tech/vocational schools and programs. I think these are very useful and important and should be funded as such.

If anyone bashes community colleges, they should rethink their values...Do we want a society where where higher education is available only for the elites?




Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
VOX Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 07:02 PM
Response to Original message
26. In CA, the CCs have gotten a **big** boost in status...
With tuition for UC and California State Universities going through the roof, and admissions seriously tightening due to major budget constraints, CCs are back in full swing, getting a good share of very bright students.

Example: I have an exceptionally bright neice who wanted to attend UC Santa Barbara, but didn't make the admissions cut. She did get into Cal State University Northridge. But she was so determined to attend UCSB that she opted for two years at Santa Barbara CC, with the goal of feeding into UCSB.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lolly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 08:18 PM
Response to Reply #26
32. Good Choice
If you're going to transfer anyway, it's better to start at a CC than a Cal State. CCs are geared for transferring, and have special offices to shepherd students through the transfer procedure. Cal States aren't.

Also, maybe some Cal St. people here will set me straight, but my impression is that CSUN is very impacted, and it's extremely difficult to get the classes you need.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
TheMightyFavog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 07:11 PM
Response to Original message
27. Not to mention
Edited on Mon Jun-07-04 07:13 PM by JonathanChance
I many cases, especailly in more rural highly freeperized areas, CC's are bastions of liberalism!

Throughout my career at UW Marinette, I can only think of three professors who were Republicans. One was a Corporate Lawyer who did double duty as a Poly Sci Instructor. He made no bones about his dislike for Clinton, although, he's not to thrilled with minibrain these days. One taught the ESL classes for the International students, she was an officer in our County's Republican Party a few years ago. She died of breast cancer March. One was an Australian math instructor who struck me as total fundie. He's into Rev. Kenneth Copleand, one of those Rev. Send-Me-Monies that come on our UPN affilate every weekday at lunchtime. Every other professo I had was pretty liberal. Heck, my theatre prof used to occasionaly write speeches for the Governor of Iowa when he taught there.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WindRavenX Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 07:22 PM
Response to Original message
28. I've seen what you're talking about
And yeah, it's wicked annoying. No one should have to take crap for "only" going to a CC- in many cases, the quality of the education that these colleges provide equal or exceed any private four year school for a mere FRACTION of the cost.
I go to a private four year school, but I see everyday people blasting CCs @ my school, and it pisses me off.
CC are a vital part of higher education...they need to be supported and not ridiculed.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
YellowRubberDuckie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 07:35 PM
Response to Original message
29. I took a few GEs at a CC...
And I made As there. I was challenged more there, and learnd more there than I do at the University I currently attend. Community Colleges are great. But they are very high schoolish. That was the biggest draw back. And the support staff at the one I went to acted like they were doing you a favor when you went to get business taken care of. They were rude and charge for EVERYTHING. Here, everything is covered by tuition. But if you want a transcript there, you have to give them three bucks, and then they print it and stamp it, and seal it in an envelope. It's all totally useless, and I hate it when people who do that for a living treat people as if they are dirt under their feet. It pisses me off.
Duckie
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Lydia Leftcoast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 07:45 PM
Response to Original message
30. I took CC classes
when I needed to get some background on the technical subjects I was translating. (And I already had an Ivy League Ph.D.)

I agree with whoever it was who said that CCs are one of the best parts of the U.S. educational system.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BlackVelvetElvis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 08:06 PM
Response to Original message
31. I went to a private college
I hated it. I later went to a cc and got a great education and was very motivated because of my instructors. Now I teach there and I see alot of people coming in who have lost jobs due to the economy. Community colleges are a way to a better life and are very vital to the health of a community's workforce and economy.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Xithras Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 08:21 PM
Response to Original message
33. I work at a CC, and haven't seen the animus you're referring to
In fact, I'm typing this response on my taxpayer funded computer in my CC district office (I'm on break, so it's OK).

Seriously, in the roughly three years I've been posting here, I think I've run into ONE person who slammed a CC, and that was in a recent thread about the funding shifts in last years budgets and the relative importance of the CC's vs. the UC's (the poster was upset that CC funding was being coddled while the UC's were being cut). Most people here recognize CC's for what they are...the only institutions of higher learning that are open to all, regardless of class, financial status, personal history, educational background, or political bias. Because CC admissions are so open, I've found that they actually do a better job at representing a diverse cross section of their communities than UC's or the CSU's do.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
HarveyBriggs Donating Member (324 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 09:33 PM
Response to Original message
34. Any Rich Idiot Can Get into Yale.
We're suffering from living proof of that.

I went to CC to get a lot of basic classes out of the way on the cheap -- and enjoyed a better teacher-to-student ratio than at most public universities.

Then went to a major university for major and minor classes and graduated Cum Laude.

Between the CC and a part-time job I paid my way and left school with no student loans to pay off.

And people in here consider that stupid?

Well, I suppose if I had needlessly saddled myself and future family with a boatload of student loans, I might have a chip on my shoulder, too.

Harvey Briggs
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-07-04 09:34 PM
Response to Original message
35. None from here. Michigan has two of the best community colleges
Macomb and Oakland and the top schools take from there all the time. :hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Wed Feb 19th 2025, 02:13 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC