Filed under: teaching
I am so glad I am not teaching an inequality class next school year. Group dynamics and research methods. The reason for this celebration? Honestly… cause teaching all of this inequality starts to get damn depressing. Staying constantly updated on everything, dealing with students who tell me that I’m “playing the race card” and knowing they feel pleased cause they remember a term I taught them (and them failing to realize that they just proved the entire point of the semester)… it wears on me. And, yes, I realize that my ability to feel this way (predicated on some idea that I get some sort of escape from all of this) is a reflection of my many privileges (white, heterosexual, ambiguously religious…). But, I still feel that way. And, to drive it home, a great news story from Rachel Maddow:
This constant awareness about how much the world sucks… I doubt I can shut it off. I know I’ll still read, write, and discuss issues related to race, class, gender, and sexual inequalities. I can’t help but be happy that it won’t be my job to do so, at least for two semesters.
Filed under: Random
A while ago (probably about a year), I told you about the wonderful book Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss. At the time, he was running a fundraiser for Heifer International. If you didn’t get on board last year, you have another chance.
First, read the book (really, it’s really really good).
Second, you can get your name in the next book of the trilogy (Wise Man’s Fear). By going here and following the instructions. (Actually, you’d need to do this first cause time is running out … but, you can help out Heifer, which is good anyway).
Good fiction and a great cause. What more can you ask for (besides tenure)?
Also, while you are at it, you can read this blog post by Pat which talks about hating his job (to write fabulous books) sometimes. Sound familiar?
And, while we are on this track, there was this post on Chronicle Higher Ed about a new professor. I found the comments hard to read. Everyone was basically saying that she/he was a crap teacher because she/he was struggling with liking what she/he was doing. To me, all of his/her worries indicates she/he IS a strong teacher… I guess I’m sensitive about that, because lately I hate my job … but I still think I’m good at it. Part of the reason we hate is because, ultimately, we care so much.
