In Hawaii, people above the age of 60 are allowed to "audit" all courses in all publicly funded universities--- something that we should really be considering seriously for senior citizens. For those who are not familiar with the nomenclature of US universities, to "audit" means you can attend classes and listen and participate, but you will not be asked to do the "papers", and the professor will neither mark the papers nor give you a grade. It is intellectual enlightenment without the pressures of having to write papers to deadline and worry about the grades. Perfect for a sophisticated older gentlemen or lady-- what more can one ask for?
Another interesting bit of information was revealed from the professors who have taught such "audit" courses where many senior citizens were present. The presence of the senior citizens in the classroom changes the cultural dynamic of the course, especially during discussions, when the seniors with more experience and longer memories contribute. Whereas many of the young adults might have been only toddlers when the Berlin Wall fell, the seniors would have watched it on television. So it is not just the seniors but also the young students who benefit from the discussion cutting across generational lines. So everyone wins when 'diversity' comes in, particularly some of our know-it-all aggressive students.
As far as I know, no such schemes exist in Asian universities which cater mostly to those under 30 years old. As our population ages with more and more seniors, the educational institutions might have a vital role to play. The wealthy elite can benefit from courses on appreciating the opera or on "spirituality" or even join "light" physical activities such as yoga at the university gym. The elderly poor-- unfortunately the majority of the people fall into this category-- can be taught simple computer skills that will allow them, for example, to pay their electricity and phone bills online rather than by having to line up at the nearby post office.
Another area to be benefited from this is understanding the needs of the young and senior adults by one another, be it declining moral ethics or the pain of unemployment (as a result of competitive attitude). If enough seniors were hanging around classrooms and student canteens, and reasoning with the young students before problems exploded in the public domain, then, perhaps, we might have more enlightened campuses. And better understanding among both the young and old.
Another interesting bit of information was revealed from the professors who have taught such "audit" courses where many senior citizens were present. The presence of the senior citizens in the classroom changes the cultural dynamic of the course, especially during discussions, when the seniors with more experience and longer memories contribute. Whereas many of the young adults might have been only toddlers when the Berlin Wall fell, the seniors would have watched it on television. So it is not just the seniors but also the young students who benefit from the discussion cutting across generational lines. So everyone wins when 'diversity' comes in, particularly some of our know-it-all aggressive students.
As far as I know, no such schemes exist in Asian universities which cater mostly to those under 30 years old. As our population ages with more and more seniors, the educational institutions might have a vital role to play. The wealthy elite can benefit from courses on appreciating the opera or on "spirituality" or even join "light" physical activities such as yoga at the university gym. The elderly poor-- unfortunately the majority of the people fall into this category-- can be taught simple computer skills that will allow them, for example, to pay their electricity and phone bills online rather than by having to line up at the nearby post office.
Another area to be benefited from this is understanding the needs of the young and senior adults by one another, be it declining moral ethics or the pain of unemployment (as a result of competitive attitude). If enough seniors were hanging around classrooms and student canteens, and reasoning with the young students before problems exploded in the public domain, then, perhaps, we might have more enlightened campuses. And better understanding among both the young and old.
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