Re: WC in Comm. Coll -Reply -Reply

[DILWORTH@smtp.munet.edu]

Todd,

Oops!  I didn't mean to sound like I was bad-mouthing community
colleges. Apologies are in order!  

The reason I made the comment was that I went to a meeting of the
NCTE devoted to writing centers, and the impression I got was that
there are still a *lot* of places that are into "fixit shop"
grammar-correcting.  In fact, I was so disappointed that I went home
and wrote a paper on separating the writing center from remediation.

The reason community colleges came into the picture was that I
decided to do some research on writing centers other than my own. 
Well, one place I went to was a comm college. I interviewed the
director and one of the "top dogs" from the English Department, who
acts as "liaison" for the writing center.  When I entered the center,
there was a whole wall of nothing but hand-outs on surface errors. 
And that was also the content of many of the conversations between
tutors (all full-time English instructors) and students.  Needless to
say, I was pretty depressed.  Especially since I know that there are
other area comm colls modeling themselves after this one.

Anyway, when I asked the liaison about the program, he told me that
the reason they develop the worksheets is that the students are
"underprepared" for college.  They need remediation.  (Maybe.  But
worksheets???)  He seemed to feel that it was one of the things comm
colls need to do.  And after attending that other meeting, it sounds
like there are plenty of people who agree with him. (People seem to
have this weird idea that comm colls are for people who don't belong
in the university.)

So, that's it in a nutshell.  Maybe it *is* a myth that com coll
writing centers are primarily remediation.  But, even in myth, there
is a grain of truth--otherwise they might not be so prevalent.  And I
saw some of it for myself.  Although, admittedly, it was *not*
restricted to comm colleges!

My apologies, if I offended anyone. I tend to mental and verbal
shorthand sometimes.

Our WC is by a small woods.  No lake, but there's a pond out back of
the student lounge.  Geese.  Gazebo.  Statue of St. Francis (we're
run by a Franciscan order).  It's a nice little campus.  Even in
100-degree heat.

Denise