I really appreciate the candor of this post and the comments! And I share many of the concerns you’ve identified. What I most liked about your post, Sara (and there were so many things!) was the way you drew attention to the distinction between “professional” and “professing.” I’ve always felt that teaching was a calling — a vocation (pretty sure I say as much in just about every syllabu I write). I’m with Bethany in terms of having a strong connection between what I teach (history) and how and why. My research and what I learn from that kind of inquiry and discovery definitely animates my teaching. I wouldn’t be the teacher I am if I weren’t also a scholar. But both activities are fundamentally about discovery, connection, rigor and reflection (context). All of the fuss about clickers, “dressing the part,” having slick PowerPoints, and being able to “measure productivity” or “learning” is just mind-numbing distraction IMO.

I agree with Anurag and Jyotsana — Your avatar is so cool, and your students are very lucky to have you. I especially appreciate how committed you are to encourage them to think critically about things that are not black and white.

I hear you, George. My response to “we can’t afford that” (universal healthcare, housing, equal access to education) is “we can’t not afford that.” And I hear the discouragement about the challenges that face us in higher ed right now. I find the drift, (tidal rush) toward corporatization alarming. (But then I’m somewhat alarmed by the state of the world in general, as you might have noticed.) Yet I remain inspired and reassured by the transformative effects of liberal learning — an education that seeks to open the mind and instill habits of critical analysis, self-awareness and reflection, as well as an appreciation of one’s place in the world and how connected we are with one another. We can’t afford not to provide an educational experience that does that.

I don’t know which I enjoyed more — your post, or the comments! I will confess that I like broccoli, but the flavor is strong and can be overpowering. A class based on broccoli would have me headed for the french fries (and that ketchup!) pretty quickly.

Thanks so much for these reflections, Sara! I really appreciate how you’ve taken some of the key concepts from GRAD 5114 and woven them into a teaching praxis that is uniquely yours. It will stand you in good stead as you move forward in your career. Here’s to a genuinely transformative TGE!

Great idea to use Hypothes.is! Actually we already have a group that most of the class has joined. This is the link: https://hypothes.is/groups/3RJ78kJX/gedi
It’s just called “GEDI” because I’ve found that groups work better if they carry over from term to term — just like the hashtag on Twitter.