Through the many courses taken in my Bethel career, one thing seems to remain the same: No one ever wants to do the class reading.

I’d argue it’s easier than ever to not do the readings, with AI and SparkNotes and endless digital distractions. I once had a peer who, instead of preparing for an exam essay response like a human being, made AI write the whole thing and memorized it word for word before the test. (No offense, but is that not more effort than just learning the material?)

I have my own anecdotes and opinions about the situation but I wanted to investigate the situation from the top down. Are we more illiterate now than we have been in the past? And whose fault is it? 

English professor Marion Larson said that she’s seen less thoughtful engagement from the average student since when she first started at Bethel in 1986. But she didn’t say that it’s because of rampant amounts of Instagram and TikTok. 

“I have way more students who have a lot more outside-of-class commitments than they used to,” Larson said. “And especially students who are working more hours for money than they did when I started. I think it’s partly because [Bethel] is just so much more expensive now as a percentage of a family’s income.”

Plus, the demographics of Larson’s English classes have changed. At the beginning of her time at Bethel, the PSEO program only brought in a handful of students. Now, the majority of some of her classes are made up of PSEO students and commuting students, who must factor drive time into their schedules

“I think the majority of students see what happens in their classes as more utilitarian,” Larson said.  “Like, ‘OK, I need a college degree if I’m going to get a decent job… and if [class is] just about utility, then why wouldn’t I use AI?’”

But reading great books isn’t utilitarian by nature. Reading books is a formative practice that can change who you are as a person. In fact, that’s why the liberal arts are a central part of Bethel’s curriculum as a Christian university. 

Quoting John Henry Newman, Professor of English Emeritus Dan Ritchie defined the liberal arts as “subjects worth knowing for their own sake.” He then contrasted them with the “practical arts,” which are things useful for the sake of accomplishing something else, like learning to do CPR or how to use a spreadsheet.

“Students have not been taught by parents, high school, or our general culture that, yes, there are some things worth knowing for their own sake,” Ritchie said.

Sure, reading Thucydides or Augustine in the Humanities program probably isn’t going to help you directly in your future job as a nurse. But they could furnish your mind and help you become a better student, citizen, Christian, friend, family member, and future spouse (possibly by spring?). 

“A lot of students who choose to come to a place like Bethel choose Bethel because they sincerely care about the people that they want to become,” Larson said. 

She made a reference to the “Belong and Become” sign out by the Egg. 

“[The problem is] from what I’ve seen, the majority of students see what happens in their classes as having nothing to do with that,” Larson said. “We do things here to take [personal formation] seriously. And I don’t think what that means is that we’re just going to pray right before class.”