North Goes Cynical

     North's second article seems much more cynical than his first.  The first article was idealistic, but it left the reader feeling that writing centers were important and were trying to reach out and help students.  I don't know if he became burnt out from struggling with his ideals or something else, but he seems to have given up by his second article.  While it is nice that he addresses the fact that some of his claims were a little too idealistic, I feel he's stripping the university of the writing center, and instead giving the writing center to English students, which probably use it the least.  

     He also suggests no longer having beginning writing classes for all students of the university.  I disagree with this also.  Many of these students NEED the classes, for the sheer fact that without them, they would be much less capable of communicating through writing.

     Even if a student only comes to the writing center once or twice, that doesn't mean he or she hasn't learned something.  That student may leave with valuable knowledge about writing, or with more writing confidence, both of which are good enough to justify the session.

     What made him so cynical that he abandoned the idealistic idea of the writing center completely?  Honestly, no one is perfect; therefore, idealistic ideas are never fully attained.  Those ideas serve their purpose though; they constantly push people to strive to do their best.  While it is nice to let tutors know they don't have to be perfect, it is not necessary, or good, to shut out non-English majors from a valuable resource.