I just returned after a month in Boston to help care for Susie's brother, having braved inhuman cold and deep snow, having to shovel the white stuff for the first time in over 50 years, to read a message that began " Well, it's been almost fifteen years and I think I it's time to thank you for helping me become the person I am." That message got me thinking. We all taut "I've been teaching for...." numbers, as proof of our expertise, as evidence of our unassailable experience, as proof of the high quality of our teaching, and as impenetrable armor against accusation or to deflect demands for change. But, now having been retired four months and four days--numbers again--I wonder if such enumeration is self-condescending. Sure, I recently retired at the young age of 72 after 46 years in a college classroom, 50 years is you count my times as a part-time instructor at UNC. I've shared nearly 1,000 Random Thoughts during the last 22 years. I have a sixteen page, single spaced resume of publication, grants, conference presentations, campus workshop spanning 33 years. Impressive numbers? Not really. Actually, I think those numbers are really irrelevant. What's that old saying about it's now the years in your life that count; It's the life in those years? No, the real number, the only meaningful number is the longevity of the influence--assessed or not, intended or not, or otherwise, known or unknown--we have had on others.
Make it a good day -Louis- Louis Schmier http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org 203 E. Brookwood Pl http://www.therandomthoughts.com Valdosta, Ga 31602 (C) 229-630-0821 /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\__ / \ / \ / \/ \_ \/ / \/ /\/ / \ /\ \ //\/\/ /\ \__/__/_/\_\/ \_/__\ \ /\"If you want to climb mountains,\ /\ _ / \ don't practice on mole hills" - / \_ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=24797 or send a blank email to leave-24797-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
