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Almost ten years later, after several graduate degrees from state institutions, I can look back and evaluate my educational experience at PCC. I hold no grudge against the school; I chose to attend there. I am a conservative fundamentalist, but I should not have attended. Here are some insights. Most students attend PCC not because they have a good idea as to their future career, but because they have certain aspirations as to their future”a beautiful mate, a decent job, a loving Christian family, etc. They are usually drawn more for romantic notions than rational considerations. This brings some problems as well as severe aggravation. “Dating”, to use the term loosely, was pushed by the administration with every opportunity, at some points asking single students to raise their hands in general assembly. A date consisted of a) the Palms Grill, or b) church, or c) the next fine arts production. In actuality, there was a small cluster of “model” good-looking students who had the attention of half of the school. About seven males and females became the focus of attention.Normally, this would not be a problem (we’ve all been to high school), except in this particular environment there are no legitimate outside groups that flourish in normal society. All of the groups that you can, and YOU WILL run to for social company will be morally decent students who cannot help but be disgusted by the same things that you are. For those who do not feel they are happy in the system, they feel petty pleasures in tiny, silly rebellions. They drive around and listen to music together. They “sneak” off campus and go wear jeans to Wal-Mart. They hang out in the dorm and play cards”with the door closely guarded of course. The students are great, and I made some great friends. These are also the students with high risk of disciplinary action—in other words, the average student.Here is some good advice to anyone considering attending:1. If you are planning to major in a social science, meaning that you will require graduate school, consider other private conservative schools (Patrick Henry, Hillsdale, etc). There are many other private faith-based schools that incorporate a Great Books education that you can attend that will not compromise your faith. Sometimes evangelicals are simply not aware of all of their options. I recommend this because the first lesson that became clear after further education was that I had not learned to think analytically. I did not receive a good education in the field, but rather a very narrow understanding of it. I never questioned my own opinions, and therefore I could not make a good argument for them. While I am openly a very conservative Christian, I would never tell a colleague that I attended PCC, even if for a short time, in fear that they would recognize its name. Blind dogmatism rather than an appreciation for the truth of the Scripture is emphasized. You will continue to memorize; you will not learn to think.2. I understand the arguments about the rules. I experienced them. But be forewarned. While right now you may feel correctly that those who attend do so upon their own decision, recognize that the social setting and disciplinary rules do not just affect those who come with rebellious attitudes. A constant rotation of “shadowed” students filed in and out of the system while I was there, and often their violations were petty. My first roommate, a hall leader, used to wait under the staircase in the administrative building to catch guys loosening their ties. I constantly received worthless demerits for things that would only frustrate and provoke. When constantly bombarded with the pettiness of the rules and the possible consequences, one must consider whether it is a simple matter of a positive attitude. Those wanting to be closer to God will find that the rules really do conflict with your learning. Hardly a night goes by without some mandatory meeting or required ceremony. Hardly a day passes without being shuffled from one building to another, rushing around in hot clothing in ninety-degree weather. Bar-coded cards are issued, and these must be turned in. If there is a mix-up, you now must stand in line to explain yourself in committee. Evenings devoted to quiet study seldom came, and those contemplative moments are essential to Christian growth.3. Do NOT work in Food Service! DO NOT do it. If you apply for work service, have your parent insist you not be placed in Food Service, and have them call and complain and threaten your withdrawal when you are! The reason is simple. Your time essential for studying will be siphoned away at low wages while you stay after hours to do what could never be finished on your night shift. On your day shifts, you will rush to class hardly cleaned, with bits of bright orange, sticky food pulp stained into your fingernails and skin, and you will receive no understanding if you cannot change and make it to class in the ten minute space after your shift is done. I cannot overemphasize this enough. If you want to make your life at PCC miserable and intolerable, work in Food Service! |
