Do students today have any idea what "manners" or classroom etiquette is? I had to tell my college sophomores they were acting like ninth graders as they mostly "talk over" me when I am explaining something to them. Although it is a "Core" class that is required and some of it may be review, is that any excuse to not be polite and listen for a change?
If Judith Martin, "Miss Manners" in the papers, were to come to my one overly talkative class, what would she say? I think young people today want to have it all. They want everything to be their way as they have been spoiled by their parents, many of whom have good paying jobs and have given them everything their heart desires. And when it comes to college, since they are away from Mom and Dad and are on their own, they tend to do things not in an adult fashion but in a "know-it-all" fashion, not respecting the instructor as they think they know better. They know more than moi, their teacher? I don't think so.
And I don't even have a huge class. I saw a commercial where candidate Mitt Romney for president said only teachers' unions were interested in smaller classes in public schools.No, kids don't want to be in a huge class either. And some of them want to listen and learn.
But as I am teaching older students you would think they would know better. I actually moved some students (and one emailed me to complain) but I guess you can't please everyone. Teaching is a stressful profession (and college adjuncts are certainly not paid for the work that they do). I'd just like some constructive conversation in the class. Is that asking too much?
Monday, October 22, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Highlander Fest in Radford, enjoy outdoors at a festival
The tum-tum-tee-dum-dumt of the different Highlander fife and drum corps precede us who are either in a sorority, fraternity, dance group or political party on display. We were surprised there were about 35 of us in our group, a few members in very political, patriotic red, white and blue striped hats and clothes, to point out that the Democrats are in town promoting the national election coming up. Then, as we went down Main Street with our signs, we turn onto Tyler and then onto the R. U. Muffet quad field, home of the annual October "Highlander Games" in Radford, Virginia.
The "Highlander" with his red, green and black Tartan kilt is the official mascot for the college and anyone of Scottish descent (or who aspires to be, like being Irish is the thing on St. Patrick's Day) who wants to come. So you can be Scottish in spirit.
The Scots have an interesting history. William Wallace of "Braveheart" movie fame fought for Scottish independence from England in the late 1200s. He died and has remained Scotland's big national hero. And it's funny that the Wallace family Tartan pattern is the one used for the national brand, "Scotch tape". Scotland is still not totally independent of England but does have its own governing body now.
A member of the MacPherson family, at one of the many clan booths there surrounding the Muffet Scottish games field, informed me of this and said you "never" call a Scottish man English as it is considered an insult of the highest order. He also suggested it would be easy to visit Scotland -- though you would have to first have to figure out how to navigate on the left hand side of the road. Once there he said you could visit the most photographed castle in Scotland, the Eileen Donan Castle, which is located on the lower west coastline. Above that to the north are still people who speak the (difficult to learn) native Gaelic. Isn't that language associated with the Irish? The Scottish and Irish can both speak this language.
"The games" they have at the Highlander festival are quite unique. I've not seen them anywhere else in southwest Virginia. They toss a long pole a caber and also toss hay bales and what they call a "hammer toss". Elsewhere on the college grounds you can see children tossing these long rolls of cardboard, like huge paper towel holders, as nearby some adults encourage the some little ones to bang on drums.
Back at Moffet field, 341 pound Justin Smith, a senior at Radford University, is taking his turn at doing the hammer toss, tossing it over 40 feet. But his competitor Ryan Stoltz tosses it over 60 feet! Stoltz admits he is not of Scottish descent but just likes participating in the games, and no doubt the crowd is please he came.
While this is going on the "Warpipes" are standing in a circle off to the side by the clan and arts and crafts booths, their bagpipes humming to the soulful tunes "Alabama" and "Amazing Grace". One female member tells me she has been playing the bagpipes for 35 years, when few were admitted to this predominantly male association. But now there are over 1,000 female members who play in such groups. And just beyond them, a female black and white shepherd dog is actively corralling three sheep in a cordoned off area, watching her owner's hand gestures to proceed. They are considered a very smart breed of dog (unlike the stubborn shi tzu I have back home).
There are all kinds of food vendors and unique items for sale, from clan books for the familes Sullivan, Keith, MacDonald, MacMillan to crushed false leather purses with a Celtic symbol on them to stationery. One booth even solicits donations for a Sheltie rescue operation in the area and has water available to those walking their dogs on the ground.
Going to (or being in a parade as a walker), wandering the booths, listening to the fife and drum corps with their bagpipes as you bite in an "unScottish" Polish sausage, makes for a fun and interesting day of exercise outdoors in early fall.
The "Highlander" with his red, green and black Tartan kilt is the official mascot for the college and anyone of Scottish descent (or who aspires to be, like being Irish is the thing on St. Patrick's Day) who wants to come. So you can be Scottish in spirit.
The Scots have an interesting history. William Wallace of "Braveheart" movie fame fought for Scottish independence from England in the late 1200s. He died and has remained Scotland's big national hero. And it's funny that the Wallace family Tartan pattern is the one used for the national brand, "Scotch tape". Scotland is still not totally independent of England but does have its own governing body now.
A member of the MacPherson family, at one of the many clan booths there surrounding the Muffet Scottish games field, informed me of this and said you "never" call a Scottish man English as it is considered an insult of the highest order. He also suggested it would be easy to visit Scotland -- though you would have to first have to figure out how to navigate on the left hand side of the road. Once there he said you could visit the most photographed castle in Scotland, the Eileen Donan Castle, which is located on the lower west coastline. Above that to the north are still people who speak the (difficult to learn) native Gaelic. Isn't that language associated with the Irish? The Scottish and Irish can both speak this language.
"The games" they have at the Highlander festival are quite unique. I've not seen them anywhere else in southwest Virginia. They toss a long pole a caber and also toss hay bales and what they call a "hammer toss". Elsewhere on the college grounds you can see children tossing these long rolls of cardboard, like huge paper towel holders, as nearby some adults encourage the some little ones to bang on drums.
Back at Moffet field, 341 pound Justin Smith, a senior at Radford University, is taking his turn at doing the hammer toss, tossing it over 40 feet. But his competitor Ryan Stoltz tosses it over 60 feet! Stoltz admits he is not of Scottish descent but just likes participating in the games, and no doubt the crowd is please he came.
While this is going on the "Warpipes" are standing in a circle off to the side by the clan and arts and crafts booths, their bagpipes humming to the soulful tunes "Alabama" and "Amazing Grace". One female member tells me she has been playing the bagpipes for 35 years, when few were admitted to this predominantly male association. But now there are over 1,000 female members who play in such groups. And just beyond them, a female black and white shepherd dog is actively corralling three sheep in a cordoned off area, watching her owner's hand gestures to proceed. They are considered a very smart breed of dog (unlike the stubborn shi tzu I have back home).
There are all kinds of food vendors and unique items for sale, from clan books for the familes Sullivan, Keith, MacDonald, MacMillan to crushed false leather purses with a Celtic symbol on them to stationery. One booth even solicits donations for a Sheltie rescue operation in the area and has water available to those walking their dogs on the ground.
Going to (or being in a parade as a walker), wandering the booths, listening to the fife and drum corps with their bagpipes as you bite in an "unScottish" Polish sausage, makes for a fun and interesting day of exercise outdoors in early fall.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Students will be students, life in general
I guess students will be students. Some of them are fairly diligent, some fall far behind. I have several who haven't even bothered to pick up the assignment that is 25 percent of their grade!
I shouldn't take it personally that some of them are just sorry. But teaching can be a frustrating thing. Students don't listen much anymore. They would rather be on their cell phone texting, I guess.
I was going to go on a hike with the NRV Outdoor Rec club Sunday, but it turned out to be wet and cold and cancelled out on Saturday night. I was looking forward to that little adventure. I have so little adventure in my life. Some would say writing is an adventure. It is more a frustration sometimes. You write and you try to get noticed, but it is difficult to make that happen. I'm no Stephen King. (Should I be?)
It is wet and dreary today too. I hope the leaves don't all fall before I take my classes on a "leaf collecting" expedition!
I shouldn't take it personally that some of them are just sorry. But teaching can be a frustrating thing. Students don't listen much anymore. They would rather be on their cell phone texting, I guess.
I was going to go on a hike with the NRV Outdoor Rec club Sunday, but it turned out to be wet and cold and cancelled out on Saturday night. I was looking forward to that little adventure. I have so little adventure in my life. Some would say writing is an adventure. It is more a frustration sometimes. You write and you try to get noticed, but it is difficult to make that happen. I'm no Stephen King. (Should I be?)
It is wet and dreary today too. I hope the leaves don't all fall before I take my classes on a "leaf collecting" expedition!
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