A student’s attitude of “get it done” is bad for anyone who wants to teach. It makes a teacher or tutor a human dictionary or encyclopedia. It reduces difficult, intricate themes and questions to bullet points.
But it absolutely destroys what I specifically do: the close, analytical reading and rereading of texts. Everything about what I do is centered around unpacking what could be wisdom slowly but surely. I’m not saying I don’t have an obligation to be clear, or to make some notes on what points could be more useful than others.
I have a significantly higher obligation to my work, though. It is proving to be thoughtful and useful to a number who want to try to grasp something different. It’s time to declare a formal end to tutoring. What I’ve been aiming for is a lot higher than most people assume. I have to believe in my own work enough for it to continue and emerge into something fully worthwhile and beautiful.
- The Educated Self Today
- Learning, Teaching and Justice
- At the University of Dallas, 3/28/10
- The Value of an Education, Perhaps
- On the funeral of Elizabeth Burris, 2/13/12
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“get it done” is really not that bad as is looks like.. It have it’s own purpose approach.. But I consider your idea of it.. You have a point too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
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My wife is a high school science teacher. She constantly fights against the tide of students that want “a study sheet” or “just tell us what is on the test”. She teaches foundational concepts and expects students to apply concepts to solutions. So, don’t relax your standards for scholarship in the classroom.
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