PBS documentary - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 18, 2005

PBS documentary

Date: Jun 22, 2005

kick

Date: Jun 23, 2005

I'd like to see this program. Can we tape it without permission?

Date: Jun 23, 2005

More info on the program:

Declining By Degrees: Higher Education At Risk

Episode Schedule: Thursday, June 23, 2005 at 8:00PM

Description
This program takes viewers behind the scenes of American higher education to experience college through the eyes of students, parents, professors and college administrators. Set on four different college campuses across the country — a private liberal arts college, a major state university, a regional public university and a community college — the special examines both the promise and the peril in higher education today. John Merrow reports and narrates.

Date: Jun 23, 2005

Yet more info:

http://www.decliningbydegrees.org/

Date: Jun 23, 2005

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1403969213/qid=1119550644/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-4355386-9539822?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Date: Jun 23, 2005

You saw the movie, now buy the book wrote:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1403969213/qid=1119550644/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-4355386-9539822?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

You've seen some of the destruction, now read the book:

oppression & racism in academia ...
Exit 13 : oppression & racism in academia. By:, Monte Piliawsky ... Subject:
Discrimination in education, Mississippi., University of Southern Mississippi. ...

Date: Jun 23, 2005

Here's some things others have said about USM's plight . . .

Crooked Timber » » Academic Freedom

Date: Jun 23, 2005

USM Sympathizer wrote:

I just read in the Chronicle that PBS will broadcast, on June 23, a documentary called "Declining by Degrees" that laments the decline of American higher education. From the article, it sounds as if the film could have been subtitled "Welcome to Shelby U." Sounds like something worth watching, recording, and discussing with students.

Those who missed tonight's PBS special "Declining by Degrees" missed a good one. It should be viewed by all who are considering a career in academics. It will benefit those who decide to enter college teaching, and it might even lead to some deciding not to enter academics. I plan to order my own copy from PBS. Thank you, USM sympathizer, for calling our attention to this program.

Date: Jun 23, 2005

Thanks, Viewer. Ironically, I was not able to view the program because I had to teach, but my wife did tape it for me. Maybe by tomorrow I will have had a chance to view it.

Date: Jun 24, 2005

This documentary drew examples from the University of Arizona, Western Kentucky, Amherst, and a community college. Those were good choices because of the vastly different nature of the student bodies and the philosophies, mission, and expectations of those respective schools. Many dimensions were examined, including faculty/student ratio and class size, admissions criteria and selectivity, the role of intercollegiate athletics, socioeconomic status, student work, financial aid, student partying, academic tenure, and admistrative/academic philosophy. The documentary was presented in such a way that it was not difficult to compare USM with each of those institutions along the numerous characteristics which were examined. I found it to be a sobering experience.

Date: Jun 24, 2005

Lucky wrote:

This documentary drew examples from the University of Arizona, Western Kentucky, Amherst, and a community college. Those were good choices because of the vastly different nature of the student bodies and the philosophies, mission, and expectations of those respective schools. Many dimensions were examined, including faculty/student ratio and class size, admissions criteria and selectivity, the role of intercollegiate athletics, socioeconomic status, student work, financial aid, student partying, academic tenure, and admistrative/academic philosophy. The documentary was presented in such a way that it was not difficult to compare USM with each of those institutions along the numerous characteristics which were examined. I found it to be a sobering experience.

You forgot to mention how it related grade inflation to the drive for retention. Retention and enrollment increases are necessary to replace the cut back in state funding.

"No public education for you! Next!"

I had trouble sleeping after viewing that program. Our nation is in rapid decline.

Date: Jun 24, 2005

Do you think it is in decline or is it in "flattening out" -- as more people become college-educated, the overall level tends to decline, simply because of the sheer numbers of people involved. Something like the way high school education has done. Just a thought.

Date: Jun 24, 2005

LeftASAP wrote:

I had trouble sleeping after viewing that program

I awakened this morning discouraged and depressed. I fear that USM is currently and unnecessarily buying into much of the worst of what we saw last night.

Date: Jun 24, 2005

Third Witch wrote:

Do you think it is in decline or is it in "flattening out" -- as more people become college-educated, the overall level tends to decline, simply because of the sheer numbers of people involved. Something like the way high school education has done. Just a thought.

Third Witch, I'm not sure I understand what you mean about "flattening out". Could you explain it better for me?

You could say education isn't in decline at all because everyone is getting above average grades. ("C" is no longer average.)

There is documented evidence that the students are refusing to study or even read. They are getting out of college with skills below what our parents had after only high school. That is decline. When you consider the money put into education compared to what comes out, this nation is at risk.

Date: Jun 24, 2005

LeftASAP wrote:

They are getting out of college with skills below what our parents had after only high school.

Truer words were never spoken.

Date: Jun 24, 2005

Left ASAP, I think you are correct. I'm not sure I can recapture my original thought, so please disregard.