Stephanie,

Right on! Humanities are irreplaceable! With your permission, I’d like to hold on to this blog post for future reference. If any of my students ask “what good are these majors for the job market, the ‘real world’, etc.”, I’d love to show them both Edelstein’s excerpt and your reflection on it.

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Thank you for your post! I think you bring up a great point that students feel much more engaged when they are engaged with, and when the professor is presented approachably. Making connections with students, as you pointed out, can be done in any number of ways but if done really increases the quality of education for all involved. I think one of my biggest take a ways from this class, my time as a student, and my time TAing is that there isn’t a signal best way to connect, but the most effective are also the most authentic/genuine. I believe this is good – we aren’t all funny, or charismatic – but those things don’t always need to be in play to connect with students… it can be as simple as just caring, or taking an interest and being ourselves.

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Pallavi,

I’m so sorry that you’ve had to go through this. You’re completely right, these students are so entrenched in their own privilege that it’s going to be difficult to break down the platforms that they’ve built their whole lives on, much less get them to accept that they’re unjust. I can’t hold your decisions against you, but for what it’s worth, I believe you’re a fantastic teacher and that the students and the institutions still need to have their prejudices checked and resisted.

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Oh, the balance!! There’s that part of business that requires so much efficiency, efficiency, efficiency! The smallest ripple makes waves, and if the ups don’t like it, you’re cut out of the system But there’s the need for flexibility, because we’re human. I don’t know what the answer is, except, as you hinted, by creating micro-cracks. That’s a long-term goal, but it could work. Maybe adding more emphasis on the human in us all. Bosses don’t want to hear that your car needs repairs – not their problem… though it is. Can’t show up to work? Replaced with another. I hope that we’ll all be more empathetic as we gain ‘the upper hand’ in our lives. Thank you for the post

Thank you for sharing this story! I am sure you are an amazing principal who truly cares about your students. I am sure people who witnessed what happened, learned a lot from your example! The world is a better place with people like you.

Tim. Thank you for sharing this post. When I was reading your reflection I felt emotive because I can relate with most of what you have said. In the beginning of the semester, I did not know what to expect from this class. I have always knew I wanted to be a professor, but once I started my masters degree at VT i felt into depression and high levels of anxiety. This course has changed the way i see higher education and what I want for my life as a future faculty member. As you said, now I can see the challenges and heart aches that not only my colleagues go through but also undergrads (both from my lab and third party interaction) from an instructors point of view. “To a new beginning” !

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Khaled,

I’m so sorry you had that experience. Horrible teachers are well…they’re just the worst. Thankful that you were able to get out of that situation, though! The question remains, how can we help those who are still stuck with teachers like these and are unable to escape?

Courageous Corrie!
Stand and Fight!!
Shout from Rooftops for Us All!
A Message Clear, I Hear your Call!
Stand and Fight!!
We Rise to Glory!

Thank you for your post! I really enjoyed reading your story and path as you went from student, to engineer, to teacher, to you ah-ha moment. I think it really shows how messy life is… for us, for students, for people in general. I feel like a lot of people approach teaching under the assumptions that 1) everyone cares as much as they do about the lecture they are about to give, 2) that everyone wants the same things that they want, 3) everyone is at a place where they are ready and eager to learn (among others). I think you experiences show that these three assumptions are often not met, a lot of the time because of situations that are largely outside of the students control. I guarantee that the 3 students you mentioned who were struggling with personal issues wouldn’t rank your class (no offense!!) in their top 5 most important things in those moments. You recognized that, and didn’t think less of them for it… instead you wanted to help them –and makes me happy that you are where you are. Hopefully more people follow in your footsteps than those of your old math teachers.

As someone just coming into the teaching world from the professional world, it really hits home and gives me hope that I’m still on the right path, despite the fact that the struggle is real, the struggle never ends. You probably know by this point I love stories, and this one crushes. Thank you for sharing, Robin. It’s been a real pleasure. See you on campus