Читать книгу The Nature of College - James J. Farrell - Страница 14

For several reasons, I’ve resisted writing The Nature of College about “them”—a group of alien beings called college students—and tried as often as possible to write about “us,” learners struggling to learn how the world works so that we can make the world better. I do this, first, because even though I’m an aging college professor, I still consider myself a college student, learning from professors I know, from the students in my classes, and from the books I read and love. Second, I believe in empathy as a way of knowing, and in this book I’ve tried to imagine, from the inside out, what it feels like to be a college student in America today. Third, I want to invite students to take this text personally, to think deeply and carefully about their assumptions and intentions, their institutions and cultural patterns. And finally, many Americans (myself included) share many of the ideas and ideals of today’s college students, and many of the environmental impacts as well. Still, there are times when, because of generational or historical differences, it would simply be ridiculous for me to group myself with college students. It is my great hope, however, that even when I refer to students as “they,” you’ll understand that we are all in this together. Of course, in all cases, you’ll need to decide for yourself if you’re a part of the “we” I’m describing.