The first post in a series on how some of the great sociological thinkers from the past can help us understand the struggle of today’s students as they explore and discern their vocations.
I start every class meeting by asking my students, “How are you all doing today?” This is not a rhetorical question. I expect students to respond and express a feeling, a thought, even a complaint. At the beginning of the semester, I usually get positive responses—smiles or, “Doing good.” At mid-semester, the tone drastically changes. Students avoid eye contact, and the few who do respond say things like, “Stressed,” or just give me looks of quiet desperation.
What is going on? Do I happen to teach at an institution with an unusually depressed student population? I suspect not. I do not think the issue lies within the individuals whom I teach, but rather within the social context that deeply impacts their experiences in patterned ways.
Continue reading “Guiding Students through Anomie’s Disconnection and Moral Discord”