Preaching for the choir?
May. 24th, 2005 11:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
franceslievensBeen thinking about stuff. P. says I should turn off that little voice in my head, but it doesn't want to be kept quiet. I feel lost when there isn't anything to doubt. It's my constant effort to look for a direction in what I do, write, think (oops there is that word again).
See I went to the theatre on Sunday and wanted to write something about it. Sometimes I play the theatre critic. It's fun. It's easy. You write, tell your story, make your argument seem the best there is and can possibly be. It's what I usually do here. I think, find the way to write and there is an argument.
But when I write I'm preaching to the choir. It's nice to see everyone agree with me – or you're all way too shy to actually disagree. I need someone to pull my chair from under my lazy bum. I have a lot of opinions. On Sunday I was asked why I didn't write them down – which I do, on here, but I'm not going to mention my blog to a bunch of nosy theatre critics. It's because it's nothing more than that: foolish opinions, that look nice in a way, but are just there for the pleasure of other well educated elitist thinkers like me. It's classy and exciting to have an impact with something so futile as writing, but the impact will never be a big one. How many people can actually write a Da Vinci Code?
Actually teaching isn't that bad then, is it? You have all those students that don't even know what a theatre critic does, that aren't interested in words on paper, and you try to teach them to think, to show some interest. It's hard, harder than writing a stupid theatre review, and it's much less rewarding, but it makes me question. These students sometimes kick that chair from under my arse and make sure I have to rethink all my opinions and the arguments I have for them. It makes me angry when they don't want to understand, but at least they say so. When I write I don't know who skips the page, scrolls down to the fanfiction by who-knows-who and when a comment comes it doesn't throw you off your feet. It simply agrees.
I think. But I might be wrong.
See I went to the theatre on Sunday and wanted to write something about it. Sometimes I play the theatre critic. It's fun. It's easy. You write, tell your story, make your argument seem the best there is and can possibly be. It's what I usually do here. I think, find the way to write and there is an argument.
But when I write I'm preaching to the choir. It's nice to see everyone agree with me – or you're all way too shy to actually disagree. I need someone to pull my chair from under my lazy bum. I have a lot of opinions. On Sunday I was asked why I didn't write them down – which I do, on here, but I'm not going to mention my blog to a bunch of nosy theatre critics. It's because it's nothing more than that: foolish opinions, that look nice in a way, but are just there for the pleasure of other well educated elitist thinkers like me. It's classy and exciting to have an impact with something so futile as writing, but the impact will never be a big one. How many people can actually write a Da Vinci Code?
Actually teaching isn't that bad then, is it? You have all those students that don't even know what a theatre critic does, that aren't interested in words on paper, and you try to teach them to think, to show some interest. It's hard, harder than writing a stupid theatre review, and it's much less rewarding, but it makes me question. These students sometimes kick that chair from under my arse and make sure I have to rethink all my opinions and the arguments I have for them. It makes me angry when they don't want to understand, but at least they say so. When I write I don't know who skips the page, scrolls down to the fanfiction by who-knows-who and when a comment comes it doesn't throw you off your feet. It simply agrees.
I think. But I might be wrong.
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Oops...
Date: 2005-05-25 07:09 am (UTC)Sowwy
Chani *too busy to write it down again*
Ok ok
Date: 2005-05-25 07:10 am (UTC)Many because it sucks! Sorry I couldn't help...Of course I do know what you mean by that.
Go to the cinema and give us a movie critic I'll be thrilled to disagree with you! ;- )
And yes teaching can be great...sometimes Heaven, sometimes Hell.
Hey!!
Date: 2005-05-25 07:32 am (UTC)But no, it wasn't great literature either. It's just one of those books that suck you in and you read them until it's finished. I did have some trouble with the plot... At one point it's just so unbelievable that ... well ... I simply cannot believe in it anymore.
Harry Potter sucks me in in the same way, but I don't seem to mind it's unbelievable. :-)
Movie review? I'll do my best. If I ever end up in the cinema again. Maybe this weekend. Seems like a good evening out.
Ah no, I'm going to Rosas (http://www.rosas.be/Rosas/index.html). (Or ah yes, still have nothing to do on Friday).
We did have a nice discussion going on Kinsey, didn't we?
Teaching is mainly hell at the moment. Bloody students. Please take them away!!! (Before the men in white coats have to take me away...) I'm not a good teacher and the students don't respect me, nor the course. Today I told one of my students I couldn't give him a grade for my class, cos well he simply isn't there when I grade. He told me: "Oh it doesn't matter if I have a bad grade. It's only morality." *sigh*
I'll stop ranting now and leave you to your grading...
Re: Hey!!
Date: 2005-05-25 08:29 am (UTC)I really don't understand the craze about it. Ok it's easy to read, short chapters, basic writing, and kinda trendy, plus huge media cover. There were lots of similar books that have been written in the 80's and early 90's btw.
For me it's exactly the kind of stuff that Umberto Eco mocked in "Foucault's Pendulum". The author makes unlikely connections between everything, changes a few things to make them fit in...and serves the result as a mystery. And it isn't even original but mostly a compilation of old works on the same theme (about the sang réal for example).
But the worst, worse than historical inaccuracies (about St Bernard and the Templars for instance), or lack of creativity is indeed the plot and the characters. I'd figured it all after the 20 first pages! And the characters didn't move me at all. You know I read mysteries novels and crime novels all the time, and there are great authors (American and European) who actually know how to build a plot and create interesting characters. Dan Simmons does not. So that book sucked!
The only part I enjoyed was the codes, the maths riddles at the beginning.
You are not a bad teacher, you are a young teacher, you'll learn your job year after year.
As for the one who said "it's only morality" you should tell him that "it doesn't matter if he thinks that because he's obviously ONLY an idiot!".
Hugs
Back to the evil papers
no subject
Date: 2005-05-25 10:36 am (UTC)I think indeed the characters are very flat. I don't read many crime novels, so I like to enjoy a quick read every now and then (and I didn't figure it out after 20 pages...) I did read it because of the media hype and quite liked it. I also gave in to the Harry Potter media hype last summer and read them all and quite liked them, although there are also some plot holes in those (unless these will be filled in books 6 and 7).
I read something like The Da Vinci Code is for me the same reasons other people read romantic novels: it's easy, it's fun, it's a quick fix for my imagination.
I really should read Foucault's Pendulum. I think it will be my next library book.
Ad a question: I've read all the six Dune novels a couple of years ago. Now I want to read the other stuff. Where do I start?
no subject
Date: 2005-05-25 10:46 am (UTC)LOL
And I love Dan Simmons! *He* is a good author!
See what marking papers is doing to my brain!
To reply to your question you could start with Dan Simmons' books! Actually I must have had some prescience of your question earlier hence my slip...(ou comment retomber sur ses pieds après une erreur!). He writes Sc-Fi, horror, mysteries...it's quite good.
Have you ever read Asimov's work? It's a classic. Foundation is easy to read...a quick fix for your imagination. He also wrote short stories that are pretty good. He had a great sense of punching lines.
The first Dune's prequels that tell the childhood of Leto(House of Atreids, House of Corrino, House of Harkonen) aren't good but the second trilogy that tells the Butlerian Jihad isn't bad. You could give it a try.
I have 15 papers left...*sigh*
no subject
Date: 2005-05-25 01:34 pm (UTC)That's the great thing about the philosophy of Sociology though... it's forever dynamic, and the greatest dynamic influence on the micro science is youth. Whether your students know it or not, they're a key influencer in the evolution of every aspect of society. Whether it's their apathetic attitudes, their petulant and reactionary demands or their thoughtful support, they play a part.
In some ways I envy the teacher's role. By the time we reach adulthood, most of us will settle down to be normal Joe Public's and as long as our essential needs and, within reasonable, wants are met we are content to become part of the silent majority. Adolescents are all about stretching boundaries, challenging authority, questioning order, asking for the 'ridiculous'. Knowing that, there's always a way to pique the interest of the apathetic teenager. Trouble is, what piques their interest might not align with educational expectations of modular curriculum. When I was at school, that's what teachers used 'detention' and after school clubs for... to round up the wandering minds of the disinterested and to stimulate further the hearts of the enthusiastic.
You have great passion for, and understanding of, the subject and it shows in your LJ. I'd be gobsmacked if your students didn't feel that. You can never capture all of their minds, but you'll surely plant seeds in their minds that with careful nurturing will grow. Some will blossom, some will (as the bible says) fall on stony ground and perish.
If I had the patience, I'd love the opportunity to influence young minds. Sadly, patience is not one of my virtues. I will not tolerate verbal abuse, lack of effort or inattentiveness when I am working. It's unlikely, in todays society where youth has far too much legal power over age and authority - without the ability to comprehend fully the responsibility that goes with that - that I would last very long as a teacher in the state system.
I've developed and run a number of team-building and motivational events for businesses that have involved cross-generation groups and it's amazing how much youngsters absorb from 'working' with adults as peers - and vice versa. I remember getting several people who were at school in the 1950's in to visit classes at a local school (they were looking at the changing laws for youth and how it has affected society) to share their experiences of how schools ran in the 1950's. It generated such enthusiastic debate that the school asked me to organise and host an evening where six residents from a local home for the elderly took questions from, and debated with, 24 of the 34 students on whether 1950's or 2005 legislation better served the needs of youth today. The students went on to do a full term project on the topic and the school now has a very active Debating Society.
Not sure why I'm rambling on here... 's just that I love the topic... going to make coffee now and see how Liverpool are doing.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-25 02:12 pm (UTC)I won't tolerate that either. Unfortunately I find it very hard to get some respect from the students that tend to the above behaviour. The only thing they need to do to pass my class is be a bit attentive and put some effort in the two hours they are inside my classroom. Sometitmes I'll ask them to do a tiny bit of homework, but it won't ever be much. For some students it's already too much. These things hurt me, make me feel bad about what I do. I'm not a teacher that has a lot of impact on the students. I stress. I put off the work I actually have to do. I hate preparing classes... But like Chani said: I'm a young teacher. It doesn't equal a bad teacher...
I have done things the wrong way this year. I'll try and start better next year (if i'm still teaching, I'm not even sure of that). If I can let something bloom in more than two persons then I'll be very happy.
Hannah Arendt wrote the following (I don't know the exact quote, but it goes something like this): "Every child born into our society is a little barbarian."
no subject
Date: 2005-05-25 02:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-25 03:13 pm (UTC)As long as you have enthusiasm for your subject you WILL be a good, maybe great teacher. Once the passion is gone, it is impossible to ignite any interest in students. Your tone will be dull, your movements stilted, your desire to try again and again to get things across will evaporate. That's a very different emotional place from the frustration of feeling that you could have done things differently, or you didn't get what you wanted across. As you and Chani say, that's experience... it's also valuable lessons learned. As I would say to new managers working for me, "You've visited the minefield. You've exploded a few mines. Remember those... don't tread the same path next time. Get smarter."
Many of the best teachers I ever had were not extroverts or loud and commanding. Instead they oozed a love of their subject and, when listening to them (I'm remembering here my High School English and Maths tutors) I would become entranced. Unfortunately, although that meant I did really well in English, I failed miserably at Maths because I just don't have that sort of mind. Start talking numbers to me and I'm lost. The one good thing was my Maths tutor did teach us 3dimensional chess, which was great fun (didn't help me pass exams, but it stopped me being disruptive in class ;D)
The only really poor teachers are those who no longer enjoy their chosen subject.