In response to my last reflection, one professor wrote in what seemed
to be a demanding tone, "....let's just stick to technology and pedagogy....."
I wasn't going to respond until an answer unexpectedly happened my way
yesterday. I was disobeying my beautiful Nurse Rachet and working, braced knee
and all, the drive-through line of the synagogue's corn beef sandwich sale
fundraiser. A black Lexus pulled up. I leaned through the open window. A
smiling young lady leaned over holding two tickets. I exchanged them for two
sandwich boxes. Then, as if not caring that cars were lining up behind her,
she hit me square in my heart. I wasn't ready for it. "Dr. Schmier. You
don't remember me, do you. I was Sally Sax (not her real name) in your class
twelves years ago. You came to the hospital to visit me when I was really sick
and missing class. I was surprised to see you. I wondered why you came since I
wasn't a very good student. You told me not to worry about a project
presentation my community was making and to just focus on getting well. You
said, we'd work something out so it wouldn't hurt me. After you left, I cried.
For the first time that I could remember, I felt worthwhile. I felt loved. I
felt I mattered because you showed that you noticed me that I mattered to you.
I decided right then and there to start believing in myself and turning myself
into the person you believed I could be. I still am. And, I'm teaching what
you taught me to my children. I never said anything about this in my journals
or to you. So, I think it's time to say, 'thank you.' I'd come out and give
you a big hug if there weren't so many people behind me."
I just silently leaned on the door for a second, speechless. The ache
in my braced knee disappeared. I could feel a tear forming. Then, I said a
quiet "thank you." It was enough.
With that, I backed away, she smiled and drove off. When I told my
Susie, she asked if I remembered Sally. I answered, "No."
But, I couldn't get Sally out of my mind. This morning, as I was
reading David Brooks' oped in the NY Times, and writing a comment, it hit me.
I remembered; and, I remembered that I could never figure out why Sally had
suddenly blossomed after she came back from a week in the hospital. Now I know.
So, to this professor, I say, no. I won't. I can't. I'm someone who
speaks to people about living a deep, meaningful life, professionally and
personally. Though I've never have ignored technology and pedagogy, but I'll
focus more so on people. Hippocrates said something to the effect that it is
more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort
of disease a person has. It's not different in the classroom. We each have
self-fulfilling views of both ourselves and students. We shouldn't see
students merely as avatars of GPAs, stripped of their intrinsic worth of being
a human being. We are at our best when we present education as personal
transformation and development rather than as ritualized test-taking and
grade-getting. So, I'm not just asking you to consider living and teaching
according to the dictum of my "Teacher's Oath." I'm begging you. Technology
and methodology are important, but not more than is the individual person.
There are a lot of people like Sally out there.
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 /\ /\ /\ /\
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/ \ / \
/ \/ \_ \/ / \/
/\/ / \ /\ \
//\/\/ /\ \__/__/_/\_\/
\_/__\ \
/\"If you want to climb
mountains,\ /\
_ / \ don't practice on mole
hills" - / \_
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