Inside Higher Education just published this interesting essay on how colleges might better service First Generation Students.
I deeply appreciate the attention on the complex journey of being “First”. I appreciate the acknowledgement that first generation students are survivors.
Yet I struggle with the sense that “survivor” implies victimhood. Or perhaps, I struggle with how we can generate conversation about the challenges (clearly, often created by policies and practices that work against the interests of these students ) as well as the many strengths that First Generation students bring to our classrooms.
And I’d welcome more attention on the positive work ethic, the straightforwardness, the resiliency and the many other positive attributes of many First-Generation students, as these are things that all students (and their faculty) would do well to emulate.
I’ll be ordering the book today. Does anyone want to read it together (virtually)?
Education and Class 