The Disparity Between Intellect and Character

   In Robert Coles " The Disparity Between Intellect and Character" is a brief discussion about a student sharing her concerns for the fact that she attends a college that focuses more on intellect rather than ones character. The student shares her concerns of the struggle between intellect and character and how she doesn't understand why its not important or ever addressed at her college, which she is struggling to remain apart of. Coles addresses why colleges perhaps pay less attention to character now a days and gives his definition of character.
   Coles writes about how we members participating in college communities can help bridge the gap between intellect and character. Coles says "character is higher than intellect" (Coles, pg. 10), which I strongly agree with. I believe that ones character speaks louder then ones intellect. Ones character to me is more important, yes I do believe that we as college students and professors working on campus should help fill the gap between intellect and character because both are important in growing as a student and a moral person, but when it come down to one out weighing the other in my opinion, character is higher for me. I think that Coles thinks that colleges pay less attention to a students character because why should they care about there students character, I feel that as long as there students are making good grades and their school is ranked high, why does it matter if there students are being good people and doing good things as far as making good decisions, showing respect for others and just simple manners. I don't think perhaps the college I attend is necessarily like this but in my opinion there are colleges out there are like this and why would they care if there's strong character walking around there campus. Perhaps this is why Coles thinks that colleges pay less attention to ones character. I'm not saying that all colleges are like this or that they do not care, but that I do agree that colleges pay less attention to it. If I were running or in charge of a college I would care. My students character and how they act being a good person or bad is very important. Ones character will get them, me farther in life than how book smart I am or how high my intellect is. Perhaps institutions use to teach their students how to become good and decent people, but now intellect is drilled into students and an overload or information is thrown at you for you to retain and never forgot. How can you work on building your character if your constantly trying to live up to the student sitting next to you that receives all A's but yet cant be friendly, carrying on a conversation, or just be a good person at heart. This is what the student in Coles "The Disparity Between Intellect and Character" expresses in her concern to the professor. A students actions and attitude speak much louder than words. You can get a good idea of someones character based on their attitude and actions they show. The distinction between knowing what is good and becoming a good person, is that you may know what it takes to be a good person or what it means to actually make the good (right) decisions when presented with a choice of good and bad, but can you actually make good decisions all the time and consider yourself a good person? I do believe that as Coles says "intellect can grow and grow"( Coles, pg. 10), but the message here is not to forget your character in building your intellect.