Challenging Society

Challenging Society

James Thurber had many set backs in college. Thurber challenges society and the traditions of modern universities. In the essay "University Days" Thurber mocks the hegemonic structure of schools. He gives examples of the many outdated practices still used today. Thurber disagrees with many of the standard methods of teaching and gives examples of failures in amusing situations to hold the attention of his young audience.

Thurber describes a swimming class that he must pass in order to show that swimming is not an important step in becoming educated. The fact that he has someone else fill in for him to swim in the test does not make him less educated. Thurber presents a situation in gym class when he refuses to take the swim test by saying, "I pass my gym work anyway, by having an other student give my gymnasium number (978) and swim across the pool in my place" (Thurber 256). In this case he passes the class by cheating and no one ever notices. He is mocking the hegemonic structure by passing with flying colors, never having to step in to the pool however, according to the university he must pass this test. He mocks the meaning of the requirements set up to the university by showing how swimming will never help him to become educated.

Thurber also feels he is wasting his time in the military classes. His school requires him to spend two years in these even though he never plans on joining the military, In this class they drill using Civil War techniques which are very outdated compared to the new World War II technology that is being used outside of the school at the time. These outdated methods make this time pointless. If he were drafted into the war he would be ill equipped to fight, as would the other soldiers from his school. This could have serious effects on the battlefield, including death. Thurber uses this example to show how outdated methods are still used by teachers and encouraged by the universities.