Blog #3 The Culture of Writing

       I would love to say that the culture of writing at Kean is all about expression of the student's thoughts and individual advances in the classroom setting, however, I have found that this is not the case.

       Most of the classes I have sat through (with some wonderful exceptions) students have focused on validating the teacher's ideas and worrying about the grammatical errors throughout so that they each get the best grade possible. It has not always been the teacher's fault (though sometimes I feel as if I'm sitting through 7th grade all over again with the lessons on comma usage and run-on sentences). That is just how students learn to write in high school. They know the basics and they know what teachers have always expected of them and that usually doesn't include stating their own views in their writing. They often just want to get through this "major requirement" to move onto the classes that interest them more or to graduate and get out of here so they can support the family they plan on having or the lifestyle that suits their interest.

       It's really kind of sad, thinking about it. Writing has always been an expression of who I am. I use it to convey my innermost thoughts and to work through my problems. I use it to make points to my colleagues and encourage my friends. If others saw writing as an outlet instead of a requirement, the environment in the classroom (and daily life) would be much happier and relaxed.