The document summarizes a debate between Mina Shaughnessy and Patricia Cross in the 1960s about open admissions policies at colleges. Cross argued that many new students were unprepared due to lack of effort, not poor schools, and some were not suited for traditional education. Shaughnessy argued that poor preparation was due to race and class prejudice and teachers needed to remediate themselves to help basic writers. The document also lists other experts' views on why poor and minority students struggled, and Cross's view that open enrollment was fraudulent. Shaughnessy outlined four steps for teacher remediation including stopping defending the status quo and seeing students as capable of learning.

1. Mina Shaughnessy: Hero or
Historical Figure

2. Historical Background
Academic hierarchy promotes inequality
University
State College
Community College
1960's
Civil rights era leads to open admissions.

3. Two Educators Debate
Who should go to college, and who is in college
Patricia Cross Mina Shaughnessy
"Sound analysis" of New Students "Numbers distort the truth"
● Most New Students are not
minorities (36). ● CCNY is more diverse and
● Students are unprepared for representative of urban
college because of lack of effort populations.
and motivation.
● Schools should "develop
● Blames race and class prejudice
for poor preparation.
individual talents" (vo-tech)
rather than provide remedial ● Teachers must remediate
classes(36). themselves and learn to teach
● Some students are not suited for Basic Writers.
traditional education.

4. Other Experts Chime In
Possibilities why poor and minority students do
poorly in college:
● Poor elementary and secondary schools.
● Learning disabilities.
● Lack of interest and motivation.

5. Cross's Thesis
Open enrollment is "a silent contract of
fraud" equivalent to the promise of
catching the unreachable "brass ring" (37).

6. Shaughnessy's 4 Steps to Teacher
Remediation
1. Stop "guarding the tower" (status quo).
2. Convert the Native (see students as
empty vessels).
3. Observe students and themselves as
writers.
4. Dive in (make the decision to remediate
themselves).

7. Source
McAlexander, Patricia J. "Mina Shoughnessy
and K. Patricia Cross: the forgotten debate
over postsecondary remediation." Rhetoric
Review 19.1-2 (2000): 28-41. Online.