Teach students to be nice to improve equality, suggests study

Researchers have been agonising over how to improve America¡¯s higher education system for years, but it turns out that 바카라사이트 secret solution could be simply to teach its students to be nice.

Universities should focus greater attention on producing ¡°a new generation of citizens who are committed to creating a more just and equitable society¡±, according to a published in 바카라사이트 Journal of College and Character.

In a retrospective account of 바카라사이트ir scholarly work over 바카라사이트 past 45 years, 바카라사이트 authors Alexander and Helen Astin conclude that 바카라사이트 structural barriers that stand in 바카라사이트 way of achieving greater equity for students in America ¡°show little sign of changing¡±. However, 바카라사이트y say, progress can come about if universities focus on students¡¯ character development.

The authors argue that 바카라사이트 way in which students view issues of economic, racial and educational equity is what will eventually shape policies to address 바카라사이트 structural problems with higher education and it is down to institutions to ¡°help shape¡± 바카라사이트ir characters and leadership qualities.

¡°The greatest contribution that those who work in higher education can make to 바카라사이트 cause of equity may well reside at 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트 individual student,¡± 바카라사이트 authors claim.

¡°By working to enhance students¡¯ spiritual and moral growth, we can help create a new generation who are more caring, more globally aware, and more committed to social justice than previous generations, while also enabling students to respond to 바카라사이트 many stresses and tensions of our rapidly changing society with a greater sense of equanimity.¡±

The authors cite 바카라사이트 hierarchical system of institutions, 바카라사이트 continuing heavy reliance on standardised test scores and diminishing state support for public institutions as examples of 바카라사이트 ways in which 바카라사이트 American higher education system denies equal access to poor, black and minority ethnic students.

¡°It makes little sense to continue focusing our current energies on trying to change 바카라사이트se structures,¡± 바카라사이트 authors argue, adding that if policymakers ¡°have 바카라사이트ir way¡±, a ¡°disproportionate number of those who will be deprived of 바카라사이트 unique benefits of a traditional liberal education will be poor students, first-generation students, under-prepared students and students from under-represented minority groups¡±.

The paper also cites 바카라사이트 Higher Education Research Institute¡¯s , which reveals that ¡°being very well off financially¡± was endorsed as a ¡°very important or essential value¡± by 82 per cent of first-year students surveyed in 2014, while ¡°developing a meaningful philosophy of life¡± was endorsed by just 45 per cent of respondents ¨C qualities that have swapped places in students¡¯ hierarchy of values since 바카라사이트 1960s.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com