Higher Education in the 21st century

Dukies camped out for b-ball tickets

The Education Life section of the Sunday New York Times, January 22, 2012, contained several interesting articles on current trends in higher education. The title of the lead article, “How Big-Time Sports Ate College Life,” by Laura Pappano, says it all. Exhibit A: Ohio State recently signed former Ute coach Urban Meyer to a contract worth $4 million per year plus bonuses and use of a private jet. “For good or ill,” writes Pappano, “big-time sport has become the public face of the university, the brand that admissions offices sell, a public relations machine thanks to ESPN exposure (p. 23).” This is higher education today--branded, commodified. Colleges and universities ‘consumed’--packaged, marketed, sold to the highest bidder. So too, college ‘life.’ 

Another fascinating article by Lawrence H. Summers describes “The 21st Century Education.” The message: The digital age has changed both how we teach and what we need to learn. What goes? Term papers, facts, trigonometry, calculation, and memorization. What goes forward? Blogging, Google Translator, statistics, video lectures, collaboration.

An interview with David J. Helfand, former chair of the astronomy department at Columbia, now president of Quest University Canada, suggests how the structure of the ‘traditional’ university will change in the 21st century. What goes: tenure, departments, large lecture halls, semesters, term papers, traditional grading. What goes forward: the block system (month-long study of one subject), small classes, faculty evaluation based on student engagement, ‘guest’ faculty, final two years (upper division) of study on a single topic. 

Other articles deal with student activism, addiction and how to cope with stress: shout out!, therapy dogs, coloring (yes, old-fashioned coloring with crayon or marker), impromptu ‘one-song dancing’ in the library, and, ‘stress balls.’ 

Finally, an excellent article on continuing education for us older folks. How to take 10 years off your brain’s age? Get a college degree. Keep on learning. There is no “preordained march toward senescence.” I’ll buy that . . . 

Plucked from a dumpster . . .

The Red Leather Diary

The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel (2008). 

The story behind the book is interesting. As Koppel, a journalist newly arrived in New York City, set off for work one morning, she noticed a collection of old steamer trunks piled in the dumpster outside her Upper East Side apartment. Intrigued, Koppel investigated and discovered that one of the trunks had spilled open revealing among other items a sleek, sequined “flapper’ dress from the 1920s and a fraying, red leather diary. 

The diary belonged to Florence Wolfson, a gift on her 14th birthday, August 11, 1929. Over the course of the next five years Florence recorded short descriptions of daily life on the Upper East Side of New York City: cultural events, school, friends, frustrations, adolescent crushes, sexual encounters (male and female), college, her university ‘salon’, and, a trip to Europe (summer 1936) conculminating in an affair with a famous Italian aviator. The handwritten accounts though brief convey the contours not only of the life, but the personality, passion, talent and intelligence of the adolescent Florence Wolfson. Koppel fills out the narrative with descriptions of New York City, institutions, events and personalities mentioned in the diary. 

Sample entries: August 3, 1932: “Spent all day reading something of Jane Austin’s--how refreshing--how novel--has her breed died out?” June 28, 1932: “Have stuffed myself with Mozart and Beethoven--I feel like a ripe apricot--I’m dizzy with the exotic.”  January 11, 1931: “I’m so happy--gloriously happy--more than I deserve to be--It’s George--George with his arms  and kisses . . . “ April 11, 1932: “Slept with Pearl tonight--it was beautiful. There is nothing so gratifying as physical intimacy with one you like.” 

Florence’s entries along with Koppel’s descriptions make for a good read. But there’s more. Intrigued by the diary’s author, Koppel launched a search for Florence Wolfson hoping find her alive. With little to go on, Koppel hired Charles Gordon, a private investigator, license plate “Sleuth3,” to help in the search. Using old telephone books, Charlie narrowed the field to a Dr. Daniel Wolfson,1391 Madison Ave, which happened to be the same address as Lily Koppel’s apartment. The father’s name led to a birth certificate, Florence Wolfson, born August 11, 1915. 

Sleuth3 found more. He discovered that Florence Wolfson, now Florence Wolfson Howitt (93) was alive and well, living in Florida. With this news came a phone number. One afternoon in April 2006, Koppel made the call. After two rings, “a refined voice with the command of a stage actress” answered. Without introduction, Koppel knew with whom she was about to speak.