Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Opinion / Editorials / Is age a factor in keeping professors relevant?

Is age a factor in keeping professors relevant?

March 3, 2015 by Optimist Editorial Board

Young people complaining about old people is a first-degree cliche. So we just want to clarify: that’s not the point of this editorial.

The point is that universities are one of the few environments where a large group of people in their early twenties spend their days listening to and learning from people twice their age. And this age gap affects faculty-student relationships more than we may realize.

While some students might complain that professors should have a required age of retirement, the comment is inapplicable. Those students believe there is a threshold at which a professor becomes so old that the knowledge they are imparting is irrelevant.

We think this threshold doesn’t exist with certain subjects such as Bible or history, but it may be worth noting in areas where the professors’ relevancy to current technology and research is essential in preparing students for the state of the professional world. In fact, students should actually be ahead of the curve while in college; otherwise, they will enter the real world already behind.

Subject areas involving the use of technology are growing. Industries students are entering are evolving rapidly. Subjects that involve business, data, journalism, arts, coding or any digital aspects demand professors who can provide the most relevant curriculum.

While it’s always important to have circulating ideas and stimulating conversations in the classroom, that doesn’t always require a particularly younger professor. Bible classes and language classes could benefit from older faculty, given that they have studied the subject in more depth than their younger counterparts.

The issue ultimately lies in a professor’s ability to prepare a student for their professional life outside of college, which is not always hindered by older professors, it all relies on the situation.

So next time you hear a fellow student complaining about how old and unrelatable a faculty member is, take into account the actual material they are learning before jumping on board.

And before signing up for the youngest professor’s class just so that you can drop pop culture references in the reseach paper, make sure they have the experience you’re looking to learn from.

Filed Under: Editorials Tagged With: Editorial

Other Opinion:

  • Analyzing the Capitol riots through both lenses

  • To achieve unity, we need to start listening

  • Quality online education requires lecturing and better communication

Optimist Editorial Board

About Optimist Editorial Board

You are here: Home / Opinion / Editorials / Is age a factor in keeping professors relevant?

Other Opinion:

  • Analyzing the Capitol riots through both lenses

  • To achieve unity, we need to start listening

  • Quality online education requires lecturing and better communication

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
16 Jan

Active COVID-19 cases dropped for the fifth-consecutive day at ACU Friday. There are currently 30 active cases and 86 quarantines.

Reply on Twitter 1350232273191395336Retweet on Twitter 1350232273191395336Like on Twitter 135023227319139533610Twitter 1350232273191395336
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
15 Jan

Yu Zhong, a psychology major from Lijiang, China, was arrested Friday at his University Park apartment on child porn charges, according to police. This is a developing story. Read more below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/01/student-arrested-on-child-porn-charge/

Reply on Twitter 1350203450064297984Retweet on Twitter 1350203450064297984Like on Twitter 1350203450064297984Twitter 1350203450064297984

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

3 days ago

The Optimist
Active COVID-19 cases dropped for the fifth- consecutive day at ACU Friday. There are currently 30 active cases and 86 quarantines. Taylor County continues to see increased numbers with over 2500 active cases. ...

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

3 days ago

The Optimist
Yu Zhong, a freshman psychology major from Lijiang, China, was arrested Friday at his University Park apartment on child porn charges, according to police. This is a developing story. Read more below: ...

Student arrested on child porn charge - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Yu Zhong, a freshman psychology major from Lijiang, China, was arrested Friday at his University Park apartment on child porn charges, according to police. Zhong, 23, was arrested after he was flagged by software that detects child porn. “While no corner of our society is immune from these challen...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Praise Day Fridays return to campus

Video by Allie Jones. https://youtu.be/4F0D1oNzGjM   ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast – Nov. 5, 2020
  • ACUTV, Optimist preparing for live election show
  • Earliest snowfall recorded in Abilene

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2021 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved