New Zealand’s first university was established in Dunedin because the founders of the region believed in the value of education for their children and their children’s children.
Their commitment, out of sometimes meagre resources in the growing province, was for an institution that would benefit future generations. They recognised a need to put something in place for the future. Otago University stands today as a symbol of that investment in the future.
However, these days there is a different attitude in the air. Two-thirds of today’s students have to burden their personal future with debt averaging $29,000 in order to gain an education.
Ironically, we ask students to undertake this commitment when, as we now know, the prefrontal parts of their brains that deal with outcomes and consequences and the future, are not yet fully developed. Even more ironically, lack of this specific development will also make it likely that they will sometimes be socially irresponsible about drinking and a spot of disruption in the streets.
At a recent meeting of Dunedin’s University Club the speaker pointed out that our attitude to student debt needs to change. However, he said, Jesus didn’t propose to change society – he invited people to change themselves.
In this age of greed and consumerism - even in education - perhaps we need to think about that.
Their commitment, out of sometimes meagre resources in the growing province, was for an institution that would benefit future generations. They recognised a need to put something in place for the future. Otago University stands today as a symbol of that investment in the future.
However, these days there is a different attitude in the air. Two-thirds of today’s students have to burden their personal future with debt averaging $29,000 in order to gain an education.
Ironically, we ask students to undertake this commitment when, as we now know, the prefrontal parts of their brains that deal with outcomes and consequences and the future, are not yet fully developed. Even more ironically, lack of this specific development will also make it likely that they will sometimes be socially irresponsible about drinking and a spot of disruption in the streets.
At a recent meeting of Dunedin’s University Club the speaker pointed out that our attitude to student debt needs to change. However, he said, Jesus didn’t propose to change society – he invited people to change themselves.
In this age of greed and consumerism - even in education - perhaps we need to think about that.
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