Dr. Tsang (Santa Monica College)
A good education is important.
However, not everyone can afford to pay top tuition at a prestigious College for the privilege.
In recent years, many of the local community colleges have gone all out with clever advertising campaigns, to reach students seeking an alternative.
To a handful, the Community College route is a shortcut way to transfer to a quality college down the road, after basic education courses have been met successfully.
Unfortunately, the three main Community Colleges in the Los Angeles area - Santa Monica College (SMC), Los Angeles Community College (LACC), and Long Beach Community College (LBCC), are poorly administered by incompetent staff members with little or no qualifications - and a smidgen of bona fide skills.
Some of the problems include excessive delays in the processing of Financial Aid due to advisor incompetence, failure of the Colleges to man the computer learning centers with workers capable of resolving PC glitches when they arise, and the inability of personnel in the libraries to properly assist students, for instance.
Except for a couple of LACC professors I am familiar with - who are top-notch - most teachers at the "big three" appear to have been scraped from the bottom of the barrel. For the most part, the general studies educators have few professional credits, and a modicum of teaching skills - and without exception - have all the personality of a worm. No wonder, they're turning out slugs.
It's a clear cut case of the bland leading the blind.
Well, I expect the pay scale is so low, teaching staff are difficult to land - and hold on to.
But, there are problems with administrators, too.
Dr. Tsang, the Superintendent at Santa Monica College, proudly notes on opening day celebrations each year, that he first started out at a humble Community College in Sticksville, somewhere.
Then, each semester thereafter, the beaming "politician" plucks a chair down on the grass at the student square under the clock, and urges the "kids" to ask him questions, raise issues, that sort-of-thing.
"I want this to be informal, so I can reach out to you," he chirps enthusiastically.
But, when a question is asked about high tuition for foreign students, or why the book store gives back so little on resale books that are basically unused, he hums and haws.
Yes, he hands out a standard brush-off like, "We must look into that." Then, begs off.
God forbid a student should call his office for help, or drop him a note on school stationary. It is in his nature to dash off to the school attorney, ask for advice, then hide his head in the sand, in that event. In fact, he's been known to ignore communications from the student body altogether, which begs the question - in view of his cozy little chats on the SMC campus - "Are you a phony, Sir?"
In the recent past, male students have complained about unwanted sexual advances by Financial Aid Director - Steve Myrow, for instance - but the school has been slow to acknowledge the issue for fear of a potential scandal, I guess.
At Long Beach College the top gun is Eloy Oakley, who is also out of his league.
He has no knowledge (or concept) of student rights, the meaning of ethics, or what it means to be a "professional". When Students approach College Administration with problems, they are turned away with silly excuses, then - Oakley proceeds to dig his heels in and hold fast to his position - to his detriment.
In sum, Mr. Oakley is a class "A" loser, a disgrace to the Educational system.
In fact, this lead us to another basic problem at the three community colleges.
There is no spark at any of the three campuses; in fact, the idea that there is "nobility" in the pursuit of higher learning, appears to have eluded the powers-that-be.
Just how dumb are they?
Well, at LACC on Vermont, a parking structure has taken about five years to erect - you tell me.
In fact, SMC, LBCC, and LACC, are dreary places, institutions that fail miserably... in part, due to their inability to inspire any pride in their school - or likewise - motivate the learner to strive for excellence academically.
Part of the problem is the noticeable Campus Police presence - the force is comprised of an intimidating gang of bullies - who get their rocks off pushing around teenagers. Ultimately, the blue meanies end up snuffing out individualism, the joy of campus life, and the meaningful pursuit of student body extracurricular activities on campus.
Part of the problem appears to stem from the fact that many attendees are foreign students - or immigrants - who are in the dark about their basic rights; consequently, they are either afraid to speak up, or don't want to make waves.
In essence, the students are just straining at books, and striving for the scores needed, to transfer out - the sooner, the better. Heh, maybe the Greek life will come later at USC, or UCLA - who knows?
Notwithstanding the shortcomings aforementioned, it should be noted that the facilities are also quite drab, and falling apart, mostly. In particular, the bathrooms are particularly disgusting - downright dirty. And, most of the environs could use a coat of paint, and a robust scrubbing, with a creative touch - here and there - if you please!
In sum, the community college campus is a disagreeable setting for any youth coming of age...sets a back example, in my humble opinion.
Yeah, they say, you get what you pay for.
Here, you don't even get THAT.
Community College? In my opinion, it's the school of hard knocks!
Abraham Lincoln succinctly put it this way,
"Colleges are places where pebbles are polished and diamonds are dimmed..."