I was extremely disheartened to see posters in Evans Liberal Arts earlier this semester that declared, in giant type, “Education is Boring.” In smaller font below, it indicated that students should scan the QR code and answer the question, “How can we make it more fun?” This poster was printed by the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

I have never found a college education to be boring. On the contrary, this special period in students’ lives is quite possibly the only time they will ever have to explore new topics, new perspectives, and new ideas in a supportive, collegial environment.

I went through several emotions when I first saw the posters. I was shocked, disappointed, and finally angered. A key component of my entire academic career has been to make education interesting, fun and relatable. I work hard at those goals, and my colleagues do as well. Countless students have responded to me over the years that I have succeeded. Therefore, I find this poster insulting and dismissive of the efforts of TXST faculty members who actively engage their students in course material.

When developing and teaching a course, I have always had the attitude that most students perform to the level that is expected of them. By reinforcing this tired trope, we are sabotaging not only the committed TXST faculty members, but the students also. It is all too easy for students to fall into this trap, especially when your university is telling you that your educational time here is boring. Why even try to engage with the course content if it’s supposed to be boring? Just stay bored with it and try to survive your classes; a passing grade is simply good enough. Get that diploma and head out into the “real world” which will be much more exciting.

The intent of the poster may have been to work towards involving students in finding new and innovative learning methods, but the effect of the poster simply reinforces common negative tropes about education and promotes anti-intellectualism. Students are told by this message that learning about the world is dull, and that instead they should be entertained rather than put in the time and effort to be active participants of educational content. What you get out of a class is directly proportional to what you put into it. Ask any of my former students.

I don’t know who was responsible for this marketing campaign from the College of Fine Arts and Communication, but it is extremely disappointing and, as I stated earlier, disheartening.

Deborah L. Cunningham, Ph.D.

Department of Anthropology