As a rule, I read Dispatch articles such as
”
Gavilan Sets 2006 Goals’
”
printed Dec. 21, with a great deal of interest. Unfortunately,
this time I read Gavilan’s goals with a great deal of annoyance,
coupled with drowsiness, because they were written in
edu-babble.
As a rule, I read Dispatch articles such as “Gavilan Sets 2006 Goals'” printed Dec. 21, with a great deal of interest. Unfortunately, this time I read Gavilan’s goals with a great deal of annoyance, coupled with drowsiness, because they were written in edu-babble.
Edu-babble is a dialect of bureaucrat-ese, and is therefore characterized by long words, nebulous phrases, low semantic content, and lack of clarity. My instant suspicion when I hear or read edu-babble, or any other variant of bureaucrat-ese, is that the originators want to sound as though they are very smart and have everything under control, but still have room to claim success if things do not work out.
For example, goal 1 reads: “Establish policy direction ensuring that Gavilan will continue to pursue efforts to provide services to more members within the community college district.” One hopes that they mean “provide services to residents” but so long as they get as far as establishing a policy to do so, they have accomplished the goal. See how it works? Not that I am cynical or anything.
At this point, I expect some Gavilan official will write in to explain at great length why every single word in every single goal is essential. This is a typical tactic of bureaucrats. A normal person is lulled into a doze by extreme boredom when bureaucrats begin to drone on. Then the bureaucrat can have his way. But I digress.
One goal and one-eighth of another goal did catch my eye.
Goal number 6 is “Improve the overall appearance of the campus, particularly focusing on reducing weeds and trash.” Good plan, particularly if we omit needless words and say: “Reduce weeds and trash.”
Goal number 5 is 40 words long. The last nine words interest me: “… attract more students planning to transfer to four-year universities.”
My two older children took classes at Gav before transferring to four-year universities. My youngest is taking classes there now. As the mother who writes the tuition checks, I have some specific objectives to suggest, in furtherance of goal 5.
Consider this my Christmas wish list: all I want from Gavilan is some nice rigorous college classes for my kids. Specifically:
– Offer Math 1C, third semester multivariable calculus, every fall, and linear differential equations every spring. A student contemplating transfer in an engineering or hard science major wants to be able to take two years of math. That is Math 1A, B, and C, and diffy qs. The words “Not usually offered” next to a class offering cast a pall on his decision to go to Gav.
– Reconsider the prerequisite for English 1B. Once, the student merely had to be eligible for English 1A. Now he must have competed English 1A with a C or better. If the goal is to help the university-bound student complete his general ed in a timely fashion, reflect that his schedule may more easily accommodate English 1B before English 1A.
– Explain to Celia Marquez in the Counseling Department that Advanced Placement exams are only offered in May. Telling a student in December that she should go to her high school and take an AP exam so that she can enroll in English 1B in January is an absurd and unhelpful suggestion.
– The campus map is an excellent resource for the new student attempting to find her way around campus. Equally helpful would be a map of each building, showing classroom locations. These could be posted just inside the main doors of each building.
In fairness to Gavilan, I admit that my older sons, who are home for Christmas right now, had almost no suggestions to offer when I asked them, “How could Gavilan have better served you?”
Oliver could not think of any improvements. (He is easy going.) Nick only suggested more computer labs, which I am sure Gav is installing as fast as it can.
Finally, my compliments to Dr. Dale Clark for offering a second year of college chemistry, organic chem. Offering orgo is precisely the kind of action that will “attract more students planning to transfer to four-year universities.”
