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

The Failures of former(a) American Higher EducationThe intention of colleges in the United express during the 18th and 19th centuries was to create a system that would serve in loco parentis (in place of the parent). In the early years of American high fosterage, college professors sought to be disciplinarians, who played a parental role. However, the students at these institutions a great deal behaved in a disruptive manner towards teachers, as well as fellow students. This unruly behavior can be directly conjugated to the economical background of the students attending these institutions, in addition to the philosophies set forrad by the colleges. During this time period, colleges attracted mostly upper class men who showed small-minded interest in their academic studies. They were individuals following generations of family members to the institution, and as a entrust of their connections possessed to a greater extent authority at the school than the faculty. This issue began to budge in the early 20th century, when colleges began admitting more economically diverse individuals. The economic background of the students, in addition to their reluctance to abide by the rules, conduct to violent and unruly behavior at these institutions.      Students who attended these institutions of higher(prenominal) education were typically born into a soused 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 acquire in life. Referring to Harvard College, in his familys newspaper, the New England Curant, in 1677, Benjamin Franklin wrote that it had pass away a rich mans school, a place that wealthy parents sent their sons to, where, for want of a suitable genius, they learn little more than to carry themselves handsomely, and enter a room genteely (Lucas, p. 109). Prior to the American Revolution, higher education did not impac t the majority of the people first hand. It is estimated that no more than one in every thousand colonists attended any college present before 1776 (Lucas, p. 109). This supports the idea that college was only available to those individuals who had enough cash to attend college simply for the ability to move up the social ladder.       many a(prenominal) individuals went to college, not for the education, but to continue a tradition set forth by generations of family members. They did not take college seriously, for it was simply the next step, in rig to follow through along the path that their family members had paved.