The All State

Dear Editor:
In the October 28 edition of The All State, there was a question asked regarding non-traditional students in the “Dwonna know what I think?” column that really got my attention. The reason it got my attention was because it was full of inaccurate statements and stereotypes made by the advice column writer. In addition, the advice offered to correct the situation was poor at best.

The advice offered to the student who felt like non-traditional students took up too much time rambling about nothing was to tell the non-traditional student to “shut the hell up.”

The person offering this “advice” also said, “Often, when I want an older student’s perspective, I’ll ask, ‘Where’s my resident old person to speak on this topic?’ I will then let the non-traditional student speak, but try not to let him or her go on and on because it can get a bit tiring — and boring.”

That’s stereotyping. Can you imagine if, while in class, I answered a question using a disparaging term like, “I’m not sure, Professor XYZ, let me ask one of my young, immature, childish classmates.” Or even worse, if I used some sort of racial or religious stereotype.

How about if I told a classmate, “Shut the hell up, kid — you don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re only 18.” Sounds crazy and more than a bit stupid, doesn’t it? And yet that was the advice offered, and that’s what apparently happens in the advice writer’s classroom.

I’m fairly certain I would suffer some kind of consequence if I said something like that to someone in class — as I should.

According to APSU, a non-traditional student is one that “… is not defined only by age (usually over 24), they are also students with life circumstances different from the typical traditional student,” such as students who are married, divorced or single parents, veterans or students returning to school after spending time in the work force. According to APSU’s Web site, there are over 3,000 “adult learners” enrolled here. With a 2008 student population of 9,401, that’s at least one-third of the student population, depending on 2009-2010 enrollment. Not an insignificant number.

These are the people who some seem to have little patience with, because we are characterized as unable to control ourselves, rambling on aimlessly about nothing in particular and on subjects that have absolutely no bearing on any classroom conversation.

It reminds me of “The Simpsons” episode where there’s a picture of Grandpa Simpson shaking his fist in the air with an accompanying newspaper headline that says, “Old man yells at cloud.” It’s sad, but that’s how many students and some professors here see us.

And as I said before, it’s stereotyping and discriminatory in the same class as gender, racial and religious discrimination according to APSU and according to federal law. And it’s just as wrong and just as hateful.

We aren’t here to bore you or to take up valuable class time and “waste your parent’s money” by speaking in class as was mentioned in the column. We aren’t here to be your parents, or to prattle on about “back when I was a kid.” We aren’t here as some sort of international parental cabal, bent on ruining your education or good time while you’re at college. We’re here for an education — just like everyone else. For some reason, a simple question from a student was twisted around and turned into a bash-fest. Any advice offered was lost in a sea of ignorance and intolerance.

The real answer to the original question should be this: your first step should be to discuss the issue with the student you feel is being long-winded. Don’t do it in a confrontational manner, because nobody likes to be spoken to that way. Just phrase it with the common courtesy and respect any student or human being would expect and I’m almost certain that will be the end of the problem.

But if that doesn’t solve the problem, then go to your professor, either after class or during office hours. But telling someone to “shut the hell up” or anything else confrontational or humiliating in a public setting is a non-starter in any situation.
Having a first-class education is a powerful and personally satisfying thing that can open many doors to you. But without common sense, respect for others and an open mind, it isn’t worth a damn thing. 
— Donald McCasland, freshman social work major

Last week, I received an e-mail from a non-traditional student, Donald McCasland, in response to my comments to “Not Quite Ready for the Nursing Home.” In addition to saying that my advice was “terrible” and “at worst, offensive, discriminatory and irresponsible,” the letter writer also accused me of having “disdain” and “disgust” for non-traditional students.

Rather than defending his assumptions regarding my feelings about non-traditional students with hundreds of examples of what I’ve done for non-traditional students in the eight and a half years I’ve been at APSU, I thought I’d let the following e-mail speak for me:

Dr. Goldstone:

As you know, I am your “Resident Old Person” in your Monday and Wednesday 5:10 p.m. class, and I am very proud to be.

Obviously, you are being misunderstood from your readers. I am a non-traditional student, and you have never shown me anything but respect in your class. Your class is full of challenge, life, laughter and opinions that are spoken and respected by all students and you.

I find your style of teaching to be a breath of fresh air, and I have told you in the past that I always leave your class with a smile.

You encourage and challenge each of us to dig deep and to expand our minds, our views and to always respect (not always agree — but respect) your classmates’ opinions.

It was a bit intimidating for me to enter back into the classroom after 27 years because I am older; I am their mom’s age. The way of learning is new from the first time I was here, and I felt a little at a disadvantage.

There was no D2L, online classes or computers for registration; we registered in the Dunn Center in lines. Some of the readers will know exactly what I am talking about.

But I was given the opportunity of returning to school, and I personally cherish it much more than the first time I was here. I am thankful to have a professor like you that has made my re-entry to school great.

And I am thankful for my Monday and Wednesday classmates. You bring me great joy.

With all that being said, I will leave you with some words of wisdom from One Resident Old Person: “We all have much to learn from each other; it is when we quit listening that we quit learning.”
— Jonell Nicholson,
Hispanic Cultural Center

Dwonna Naomi Goldstone is an associate professor in the department of languages and literature, associate dean in the College of Arts and Letters and is the coordinator of the African-American studies minor.
Submit your questions to Dwonna Goldstone at goldstoned@apsu.edu.