Mr. Richie in his [column](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2011/10/25/will-blow-classes-become-blow-jobs/) asks whether he is the only one who sees a problem with his and his fellow university students’ academic life, of seriousness in studies and performing beyond the minimum required. First, I would like to laud Mr. Richie for his insight. Secondly, I would like to respond to his column and share my thoughts on the topic. I read the problem as one of discipline and motivation.
Discipline is the easier problem to address, for without it the results are obvious: bad grades and later poor job performance. Motivation is the harder of the two to assess, for at times we do not quite know what our motivation is or how we are to change or improve our motivation. Our motivation helps us to garner discipline, and the rewards of our discipline in turn bolster our motivation.
Motivation, when it pertains to academics, can be viewed in the form of a question: Why learn? Why is learning important? There are two immediate responses that come to mind. One learns, in order to make a good grade, so that one receives a degree, and then in turn one gets a good-paying job. At least that is the hope. With this motivation, the desire to learn the material being taught can wane and easily be replaced by “doing enough to get by” to simply get the grade and obtain the end goal: being successful in a job.
Another answer is to say that we learn in order to become better human beings. Literature, history, language, mathematics, philosophy, science, etc. (I am thinking particularity of “Why take the gen ed. classes?”), are all important because they train our minds and give us the tools necessary to unlock the secrets of humanity and the world. With our knowledge we are able to influence our environment, nation, and world. We learn more of what it means to be a human being and we are able to make the world a better place. We have a wonderful intellectual tradition, handed down to us by our ancestors, and through that tradition we can learn to help others and ourselves become more human.
–David W.J. Moore,
dwmc7d@mail.missouri.edu