College offers puppies and coloring books to deal with finals stress

[Magpie]

No. The impression of schools handing out coloring books.

Quote them please.

Way to attack someone for their beliefs. So people who disagree with you must feel that way because the media tells them to? Nice impression.

I was thinking some more about this and I bet you everyone has a line that they feel shouldn't be crossed regarding students and stress. Don't believe me... how about these...

• Let's do away with finals. No finals, no stress, right?
• Let's do away with grades. Everything should be pass/fail.
• Let's cut down the number of hours for a diploma. Less hours, less stress.

I'm sure everyone would agree these are taking things too far. Personally, I find the puppies and coloring books going "too far".

Except the school isn't "handing out" colouring books.

The school is only providing a space where people are free to come and colour in books that other people have donated for that use. It's basically peer-to-peer shared colouring. And given that colouring is a popular activity among adults these days, entirely age-appropriate.

It's not like they're passing them out to people in class, after all!

I do agree that that last comment was unnecessary and you have every right to be offended. However, the presence of donated colouring books on campus grounds is not a slippery slope straight to academic anarchy. We can have stringent academic requirements AND colouring books, all at the same time!



(You should try colouring, some time. It's fun!)

 

[sam_gordon]

Except the school isn't "handing out" colouring books.

The school is only providing a space where people are free to come and colour in books that other people have donated for that use. It's basically peer-to-peer shared colouring. And given that colouring is a popular activity among adults these days, entirely age-appropriate.

It's not like they're passing them out to people in class, after all!

I do agree that that last comment was unnecessary and you have every right to be offended. However, the presence of donated colouring books on campus grounds is not a slippery slope straight to academic anarchy. We can have stringent academic requirements AND colouring books, all at the same time!



(You should try colouring, some time. It's fun!)

Thank you. Wasn't was I was envisioning.

PS... I don't have the patience for those "adult" coloring books. I destress by reading, used to use exercise, or watching tv/movies.

 

[pryncess527]

Quote them please.

Okay.

Hahaha!

Yes, stress is real, & we all managed to get through college & final exams w/o coloring books & puppies & safe spaces. And I love puppies!

Seriously, what kinds of kids are we raising that they can't deal w/ the real world as young adults?

I have no problem telling my kids this kind of stuff is ridiculous. This has nothing to do with true mental health therapy, this is the coddling of young adults, and that does not belong an a college campus. But hey, YMMV.

Wow, really? To young adults in their early twenties who have chosen a different path outside of college, this kind of thing is laughable. Want to pet puppies? Go to a shelter or pet store. Want to color? Buy your own coloring book and crayons.

I guess I'm not feeling all that bad for adults who voluntarily chose the stress of college over the stress of another path. What makes them special? Stress is a part of life. It is not the responsibility of other adults to make sure you have a fresh box of crayons and a fresh color page.

really? Puppies and crayons? Really? Preschool stuff? Do these college students have teachers that wipe their noses and squirt hand sanitizer on their hands before lunch too?

Poor babies. Bless their hearts.

My goodness we are raising such pansies now, totally unable to cope with normal life.

Here is what I have noticed.

When we graduated from college and started interviewing, our attitude was "this is what we can bring to your company." 25 years later, the attitude is, "what can your company do for ME?"

I think all this coddling and hand holding is creating a society of self centered, self absorbed people in a worse way than it ever has before.

Is there anything inherently wrong with puppies and coloring books? Of course not, but I think it would be far better if new adults learn to self soothe and find ways to destress without expecting it from their place of education or place of work.

Are some perks sometimes nice? Sure, but we should not expect them. I feel this next generation expects them.

Maybe these students will include some of their coloring pages attached to their resume's.Ironically, My DD graduated from an Art college obtaining her Bachelor's in Computer Animation~program nearly killed her but no puppies, ponies or coloring books there lol. That said, she now works/lives in San Francisco and bringing your dog to work is heavily accepted so guess it is carrying over to the real world.

I am curious, can the student borrow the dog for the job interview? Man, that can be stressful? Or how about the first time they have conflict with a co-worker? Wait...I have an idea!

CoddledKids.com!

"Kids, have a stressful job? A pending deadline? What about that annoying co-worker who constantly stresses you out? Fear not! We at CoddledKids.com will use our new drone service to deliver a dog straight to your office desk! Please note that large breed dogs will have a surcharge due to their size and difficulty in delivering via drone."

 

[luvsJack]

Thank you. Wasn't was I was envisioning.

PS... I don't have the patience for those "adult" coloring books. I destress by reading, used to use exercise, or watching tv/movies.

So then would you be ok with the schools offering movies and free work outs, right? So what exactly is the difference than that and puppies and coloring books?

Its just a stress management technique. When I worked in a child care center, it was very stressful. Some days I would sit down with the kids and color or finger paint or just do some kind of kid's craft. Its was a mindless activity and thus stress relieving.

You said that this is just "too far" to you. Ok, I can tell you why cancelling finals would be "too far". Tell me why puppies and color books are "too far".

 

[sam_gordon]

So then would you be ok with the schools offering movies and free work outs, right? So what exactly is the difference than that and puppies and coloring books?

Keep making assumptions. Surely SOMEONE will be right with assumptions made about my beliefs. No, I don't think schools should offer movies during finals week. I have no problem with them leaving the exercise room open for people to use.

You said that this is just "too far" to you. Ok, I can tell you why cancelling finals would be "too far". Tell me why puppies and color books are "too far".

Because I think students should be able to find their own technique on their own. Want to color (or finger paint)? Fine, go buy yourself a book and some crayons/pencils and go to town.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Speaking for me personally, I'm not opposed to the coloring books and puppies. I just don't think the college should be providing them. If a student finds coloring helps relieve tension, go to the bookstore and get a coloring book. If a shelter wants to provide pets, ok. There's just something strange to me with the school itself providing it. And yes, I know schools have done things for finals for decades. But it makes sense to me to provide food late because people will be staying up late.

Just my .02.

OK, so do you also feel that if students want to see sporting events they should go off campus and find sports teams to watch (running all those sports teams is not about the basic academics)? How about band and theatre performances? Meals? Coffe shops? What, beyond the most basic of classroom experiences, do you feel universities should be allowed to provide their students? And what qualifies some of those experiences as acceptbale and others as not (beyond them being things you are used to associating with universities)?

 

[Erzengel]

Here's my issues with puppies and coloring books and this what was drilled into me senior year high school. How college is suppose to prepare you for the real world and professors will treat you like adults. It does and it doesn't, especially with what you learn and how most of it doesn't really apply to most positions. However, I don't think most employers would be okay if you called them the day after the election, that you couldn't come in because you were upset with the result or you were out too late protesting.

And my safe space is in an abandoned warehouse.

 

[sam_gordon]

OK, fine, I give up.

 

[DawnM]

OK, so do you also feel that if students want to see spoting events tehy should go off campus and find sports teams to watch (runnign all those sports teams is not about the basic academics)? Hoe about band and theatre performances? Meals? Coffe shops? What, beyond the most basic of classroom experiences, do you feel universities should be allowed to privide their students? And what qualifies some of those experiences as acceptbale and others as not (beyond them being things you are used to associating with universities)?

That was difficult to read.

I think Sam and I agree that there is nothing inherently wrong with puppies and coloring books. I think it just sets a precedent that student will come to EXPECT some sort of soothing device or comfort.

Do I appreciate it when my boss brings donuts and coffee? YES! But there is no expectation there.

The problem is that many of today's youth do expect it.

 

[DawnM]

Here's my issues with puppies and coloring books and this what was drilled into me senior year high school. How college is suppose to prepare you for the real world and professors will treat you like adults. It does and it doesn't, especially with what you learn and how most of it doesn't really apply to most positions. However, I don't think most employers would be okay if you called them the day after the election, that you couldn't come in because you were upset with the result or you were out too late protesting.

And my safe space is in an abandoned warehouse.

You know what is funny? A co-worker called in "sick" back about 3 elections ago to go out and protest.......but he got caught because he was featured in an interview on the 6 o'clock news where they said very plainly, "This was recorded at the NOON rally!~"

OOPS!

 

[bethbuchall]

Thank you. Wasn't was I was envisioning.

PS... I don't have the patience for those "adult" coloring books. I destress by reading, used to use exercise, or watching tv/movies.

Exactly! It's not the concept, it's the way that it is being reported. It seems that even the most mundane subjects are now reported to incite dissension. Why did we even need an article about coloring books and puppies during finals week at a college? It was reported in such a way to get people to think that "kids today" can't handle life.

 

[mjkacmom]

That was difficult to read.

I think Sam and I agree that there is nothing inherently wrong with puppies and coloring books. I think it just sets a precedent that student will come to EXPECT some sort of soothing device or comfort.

Do I appreciate it when my boss brings donuts and coffee? YES! But there is no expectation there.

The problem is that many of today's youth do expect it.

My kids don't, do yours?

 

[mjkacmom]

Here's my issues with puppies and coloring books and this what was drilled into me senior year high school. How college is suppose to prepare you for the real world and professors will treat you like adults. It does and it doesn't, especially with what you learn and how most of it doesn't really apply to most positions. However, I don't think most employers would be okay if you called them the day after the election, that you couldn't come in because you were upset with the result or you were out too late protesting.

And my safe space is in an abandoned warehouse.

Providing treats to students in college during finals has been going on forever. It has nothing to do with the election!

 

[TheConsciousness]

It does and it doesn't, especially with what you learn and how most of it doesn't really apply to most positions.

True, but remember university's primary role isn't to get a job, but to make you a better person.

 

[bethbuchall]

Here's my issues with puppies and coloring books and this what was drilled into me senior year high school. How college is suppose to prepare you for the real world and professors will treat you like adults. It does and it doesn't, especially with what you learn and how most of it doesn't really apply to most positions. However, I don't think most employers would be okay if you called them the day after the election, that you couldn't come in because you were upset with the result or you were out too late protesting.

But having puppies and coloring books (or whatever fun events) on campus isn't analogous to calling out from work because you are upset or were up late. It is analogous to finding doughnuts or pizza in the break room during an extremely busy time. Not showing up for a final or expecting a professor to let you take it at another time would be more similar to skipping work.

 

[NHdisneylover]

That was difficult to read.

I think Sam and I agree that there is nothing inherently wrong with puppies and coloring books. I think it just sets a precedent that student will come to EXPECT some sort of soothing device or comfort.

Do I appreciate it when my boss brings donuts and coffee? YES! But there is no expectation there.

The problem is that many of today's youth do expect it.

I apologize for my crappy typing skills

Beyond that, I do not know any college students who EXPECT coloring books or puppies. Footbally games and homecomming are probably so traditional they are expected, but other little things? Yeah, if I am paying $5000 a year for my kid to have a small room to sleep in and a shared bath and those are only open to them for the two semesters and closed over holidays--then, yeah, I, the parent, expect that SOME sort of recreational things are provided as part of what I am paying for, but what exactly that is--nah, I don't care that much, even when, in teh case of dogs, which my college sophomore's school has on campus for finaly as well, my own kid is made anxious by them and will most likely not be visting them

 

[NHdisneylover]

and can we all go back to universities are not employers of students, but rather educators of them, so comparing all of this to how an employer would treat them is an odd thing to do in the first place?

 

[DawnM]

My kids don't, do yours?

A few kids with a few good parents (which I assume are yours and mine) are anecdotal, not the norm.

Here are a few articles, but you are welcome to google yourself:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blo...ddling-entire-generation-children-set-them-fo

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/1...s-see-big-lack-resilience-among-students.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tammy-bleck/have-we-coddled-our-kids-too-much_b_6600448.html

http://nypost.com/2015/05/15/coddling-americas-kids-all-the-way-into-adulthood/

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/09/the-coddling-of-the-american-mind/399356/

But ultimately, we can argue this back and forth all day.

 

[pryncess527]

Because I think students should be able to find their own technique on their own. Want to color (or finger paint)? Fine, go buy yourself a book and some crayons/pencils and go to town.

What I like about puppies in particular is that it fills a void many students struggle to fill on campus because of animal policies. it was hard to leave my family dog behind when I went to college, I missed her terribly. Stress or not, I would have loved it if my college had made access to animals easy.

And BTW, I pulled those quotes you asked for . . .

I think Sam and I agree that there is nothing inherently wrong with puppies and coloring books. I think it just sets a precedent that student will come to EXPECT some sort of soothing device or comfort.

Do I appreciate it when my boss brings donuts and coffee? YES! But there is no expectation there.

The problem is that many of today's youth do expect it.

And how does your boss avoid creating the expectation? Surely if you can be treated occasionally without expecting it, college kids can (and should!) learn a similar lesson?

 

[DawnM]

and can we all go back to universities are not employers of students, but rather educators of them, so comparing all of this to how an employer would treat them is an odd thing to do in teh first place?

I don't think it is odd at all. Part of education is preparation for what is coming. Students are graded. I am evaluated in my job. Others will get higher marks, get scholarships, get merit recognition, just like someone on the job may be better than I am, get the promotion, etc....