Well, the new semester is upon us and as I was listening to new faculty
being
introduced I thought of how tired I am of the old, shop-worn "research versus
teaching"
debate that rages in academia. I am tired of sitting in on
beginning-of-the-semester
college meetings having new faculty introduced by having received this degree
as this
place, having a concentration in this discipline, having published this book,
having
received this grant. Rarely, if any, mention of teaching credentials.
Usually, just
age-old, unfounded assumptions, prevailing myths, that if you know it, you can
teach it
and to be a good teacher you must be an accomplished traditional scholar. Yet,
having
lived for many years in the research and publishing world as an accomplished
and acclaimed
scholar and now dwell in the world of the latter as something of an
accomplished teacher,
I can tell you that both researcher and teacher are comparable scholars, that
Ernst
Boyer's concept of "the scholarship of teaching" was hijacked by researchers to
mean
research and publication about pedagogy. That's not what he really meant. In
the context
of his report SCHOLARSHIP RECONSIDERED, he didn't mean that scholarship was
synonymous
with research and publication. He meant it is time to stop demanding
professionalism
when it comes to one's discipline and accept what only can be called amateurism
when it
comes to the classroom. He meant it time to stop demanding that an academic be
up-to-date
in his or her discipline and accept him or her being out-of-date of the
literature
pertaining to teaching. Maybe that's why academics generally receive critique
of their
research and publication with far more acceptance and graciousness than they do
of their
classroom teaching. Maybe that's why academics generally grimace when are
asked to be
held accountable for their classroom teaching effectiveness no less than they
are for
their research accomplishments. He meant that classroom teaching should hold a
place no
less than classical research and publication. He meant that preparation for
the classroom
should be as deliberately and consciously intense as preparation for research
and
publication. He meant that graduate schools should consciously prepare their
students as
future classroom teachers no less than they do as future traditional scholars.
He meant
that institutions should look at teaching credentials no less than at
traditional
scholarship credentials. Scholarship, for him, had a broader meaning than is
currently
held in academia. For him, it is synonymous with professional--I repeat,
professional--preparation, as well as practice. It is synonymous with
know-how, with
professional training, development, and expertise. He meant that academics
should enter
the classroom with the same professional preparation and training as they enter
the
archive or lab. He meant they should enter the classroom with the meaningful
and
purposeful "why" of what they do as they do when they enter the archive or lab.
The
research scholar and classroom teacher should engage in equally scholarly work.
They
should engage in deeply informed, intensely prepared, and purposeful
reflection, vision,
meaning, purpose, and practice.
Whether scholars or teachers know it or not, scholarship and teaching
are in many
ways spiritual endeavors. I say this because I find the two worlds are not as
much worlds
apart as many scholars--especially scholars--and teachers think. Going beyond
Boyer's
"discovery," "integration," and "application," and "dissemination," both
scholarship in
the traditional sense and teacher are as much, if not more, about personal
change, growth,
awareness, and sensitivity as they are about professional development. If you
think about
it, the most rewarding aspect of scholarship and teaching is not found in the
resume or
the award, in the reputation or the recognition, in position or authority, in
tenure or
title. It's that personal "eureka moment;" it's discovering what your own core
values
are, finding out what you believe in and what inspires you and what drives you,
and
learning what you're capable of becoming as a person. So, scholars and
teachers must
respect each other, for they both are fellow-travelers and kindred spirits.
True, they venture into different lands, walk different paths, climb
different
mountains, need to have received different training, are in need of different
equipment,
and utilize different techniques and methods. Contrary to prevailing and
self-serving
myths, to be a master teacher, you don't have to be an acclaimed scholar and to
be an
acclaimed scholar doesn't mean you're automatically a master teacher. But,
difference is
not the same as better or lesser, or as superior or inferior, or as
professional or
non-professional. Difference means just that: different. Contrary to
existing academic
culture, there is no reason for anyone to believe he or she is a higher or
lower order of
professional, much less of a human being or should have a more or less honored
place in
academia. Each serves a vital role and deserves respect of the other. Each
relies upon
the other for the discovery, dissemination, integration, and application of all
that an
education is about. Both scholar and teacher experience the same mysterious
and organic
process, and are the flowering of their own ongoing exploration and growth.
What do I mean by that? This is what I mean:
Curiosity about the subject matter in your discipline is the starting
point for
scholarship and discovery. Curiosity in your teaching about each student is
the starting
point for teaching and discovery.
Scholarship is a creative act that feeds on imagination and fresh
wonder which
hold surprises if the subject matter is intently studied. Teaching is a
creative act that
feeds on imagination and fresh wonder which hold surprises if each student is
intently
studied.
Scholars are always braving the unknown seas and launching courageous
expeditions
as explorers into "terra incognita." Teachers are always braving the unknown
seas and
launching courageous expeditions as explorers in "terra incognita"
Scholarship embraces new experiences and insights into the subject
matter which
take you into surprising new directions. Teaching embraces new experiences and
insights
into each student which take you into surprising new directions.
Scholars who take the most intense interest in their subject area are
those who
achieve the most. Teachers who take the most intense interest in each student
are those
who achieve the most.
Scholars never have finality to their search, for tomorrow is always
new and the
information is always new. Teachers never have finality to their vision, for
tomorrow is
always new and each student is always new.
Scholars go where they need to go, led on by and following the
information, going
this way and that way and another way, not knowing where they'll be next, and
then figure
out what whatever it is they need to do. Teachers go where they need to go,
led on by and
following each student, going this way and that way and another way, not
knowing where
they'll be next, and then figure out whatever it is need to do.
For scholars the options are virtually endless. Their assumptions must
be as
broad as they can be. They are constantly entertaining endlessly different
possibilities,
even the most unheard of. If they keep their eyes and ears and minds open,
they're going
to get just about all they can handle. For teachers the options are virtually
endless.
Their assumptions must be as broad as they can be. They are constantly
entertaining
endlessly different possibilities, even the most unheard of. If they keep
their eyes and
ears and minds open, they're going to get just about all they can handle.
Scholars more often than not shun the provided predictable and
improvise their own
way. Teachers more often than not shun the provided predictable and improvise
their own
way.
Scholars know that if they really want to learn about their subject,
they must
work there. Teachers know that if they really want to learn about each
student, they must
work there.
Scholars avoid the superficial and simple, and know that is the first
step in
solving the problems they wish to solve. Teachers avoid the superficial and
simple, and
know that is the first step in solving the problems they wish to solve.
Scholars know that scholarship is best approached without specific
lexicons or set
formulas. Teachers know that teaching is best approached without specific
lexicons or set
formulas.
Scholars know that every document, every questionnaire, every
experiment contains
what I'll call "everyday miracle." Teachers know that each student contains
what I'll
call "everyday, common miracle."
For scholars, scholarship is a manner of perceiving that brooks neither
blind
faith or blind doubt or deaf dogma or intractable routine. For them, more
often than not,
the most singular experience, the most exhilarating "wow" event, the most
fulfilling
discovery is not the one they had hoped for. For teachers, teaching is a
manner of
perceiving that brooks neither blind faith or blind doubt or deaf dogma or
intractable
routine. For them, more often than not, the most singular experience, the most
exhilarating "wow" event, the most fulfilling discovery is not the one they had
hoped for.
Scholarship is about always about being in a different often
unpredictable place
and what the scholar think of being in and seeing that place. Teaching is
always about
being in a different often unpredictable place and what the scholar think of
being in and
seeing that place.
Scholars must have courage for the inexplicable and the strange and the
uncomfortable and the inconvenient that they encounter. They usually have
little like for
the necessary mundane. Scholars find little charm in being sure of what they
will find.
Scholarship involves a certain amount of hardship. Sometimes is it
particularly trying.
Then, there's that discovery that makes it all worthwhile. Teachers must have
courage for
the inexplicable and the strange and the uncomfortable and the inconvenient
that they
encounter. They usually have little like for the necessary mundane. Teachers
find little
charm in being sure of what they will find. Teaching involves a certain amount
of
hardship. Sometimes is it particularly trying. Then, there's that
accomplishment that
makes it all worthwhile.
For scholars, whether they know it or not, scholarship is a journey of
self-discovery. To discover the potential within them is the first step in any
scholarly
exploration. For teachers, whether they know it or now, teaching is a journey
of
self-discovery. To discover the potential within them is the first step in any
teaching
exploration.
Scholars research to lose themselves and then find themselves, to open
their
hearts and eyes and minds as well as those of others, to stay young and vibrant
and fall
in love with their discipline once more. Teachers teach to lose themselves and
then find
themselves, to open their hearts and eyes and minds as well as those of others,
to stay
young and vibrant and fall in love with students once more
So, once again, lip service aside, if scholarship is truly
reconsidered, they both
are entitled to their due. They both have to know their particular stuff.
They both have
to know how to use and apply what they know. They both, then, are entitled to
authentic
and sincere--and, above all, equal--priority, acknowledgement, recognition,
status, and
stature--especially when it comes to promotion and tenure guidelines.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier www.therandomthoughts.com
Department of History www.newforums.com/L_Schmier.htm
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, Georgia 31698 /\ /\ /\ /\
(229-333-5947) /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\____/\ \/\
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//\/\/ /\ \_ /
/___\/\ \ \
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mountains \ /\
_/ \ don't practice on mole
hills" -/
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