In “Message to My Freshman Students” Keith Parson makes claims that freshman students are unengaged, expecting entitlement, and ignorant of college. Throughout his speech, Parson constantly remind freshman students that he is their professor not teacher, in which he emphasizes that these two titles are different and have different roles. He asserts that a teacher’s job is to make you learn and are held responsible if you failed. Parson then goes on to report that as "a professor it’s not a part of his job to make you learn, it is your job to learn. Parson pronounce that his job is to lead you to the fountain of knowledge, and whether you drink deeply or only gargle is entirely up to you." Parson acknowledges that he "as a professor is not held responsible for students’ failure and acknowledge that he get paid the same whether a student gets an “F” or an “A.” Parson expresses that "he do not have to document how often he offered assistance when you needed it and that he is not obligated to make sure that you pass or make a particular grade." Parson presents all these claims in a speech to his freshman students on the first day of class.
As a freshman student, I do not deny that he should be our fountain of knowledge and whether we drink deeply or only gargle I is completely up to us. I support claim here because it is true you can’t force anyone to do something they don’t want to do. A person can’t help or care for someone more that they want to help or care for themselves. Parson’s claim lines up with the old saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” In my view, however, as an Instructor you should push the student to help themselves and provide assistance along the way.
I strongly believe that, both professors and teachers are responsible for teaching the course work to the students. I renounce Parson’s claim that the role of teachers and professors are different, in fact, I believe that their roles are quite the same. Besides the upgrade to the fancy name “Professor” there shouldn’t be a separation on how they teach the students or whether or not they are responsible for a students’ failure. I take issue with the fact he says “I get paid the same if you receive an “F” or an “A.” I believe that teachers and professors choose this position as a career, meaning something they love to do. A career is something you love to do and wouldn’t mind doing it without pay. I state this to say that, if you are passionate with what you are doing you wouldn’t worry about the money so much, and plus you chose this career because you wanted to educate others by teaching. I argue that you may not be here to make a student learn, but if you teach the course work the way it should be taught then the students are going to learn.
I conclude that, the only difference between a professor and teacher is that professors work with young adults and teachers work with kids. Teaching is teaching no matter what age, weight or height of the students. Those who teach are supposed to be engaged and there to help their students to excel in the course. If you don’t care about the students academics, then why teach?
I strongly believe that, both professors and teachers are responsible for teaching the course work to the students. I renounce Parson’s claim that the role of teachers and professors are different, in fact, I believe that their roles are quite the same. Besides the upgrade to the fancy name “Professor” there shouldn’t be a separation on how they teach the students or whether or not they are responsible for a students’ failure. I take issue with the fact he says “I get paid the same if you receive an “F” or an “A.” I believe that teachers and professors choose this position as a career, meaning something they love to do. A career is something you love to do and wouldn’t mind doing it without pay. I state this to say that, if you are passionate with what you are doing you wouldn’t worry about the money so much, and plus you chose this career because you wanted to educate others by teaching. I argue that you may not be here to make a student learn, but if you teach the course work the way it should be taught then the students are going to learn.
I conclude that, the only difference between a professor and teacher is that professors work with young adults and teachers work with kids. Teaching is teaching no matter what age, weight or height of the students. Those who teach are supposed to be engaged and there to help their students to excel in the course. If you don’t care about the students academics, then why teach?