Wednesday, August 20, 2003
 

Today's set of touchy-feeling "gosh-darned ain't students GREAT?" TA workshops were a bit hard to take. One was taught by a philosophy student and was hence cynical (read: realistic) and tolerable, but the others (such as the one on the joys of writing a lesson plan) were a bit too touchy-feely for my tastes.

Okay. The deal is: this is a required writing course. They are not in there because they love writing and literature and they want to improve. They're in there because they have to be. I will be so low on their priority list that I won't even register. As SWMBO pointed out to me a few days ago, it's doubtful that they'll know my name at midterm.

None of this means that I mean to blow off teaching entirely. I've tried to pick out books that are funny (if not "light") and engaging, books that may speak to them. I'm not giving astronomical amounts of reading (not like they'd do it, anyway). I won't be Demon Teacher unless they're Demon Students first. It's just that I think that we all need to be a little realistic: I'm a grad student. Teaching is simply not (nor should it be) priority #1. They're rich, spoiled, entitled-feeling students with packed social schedules at a ritzy (though still very academic) university. I'm priority #489750, roughly. So let's not get into that "touch a life forever stuff," okay? They're reserving that honor for Friday night's sorority social or whatever it is they do for kicks around here.

So that's my rant. In other news, I'm having another day of random skin sensitivity. Some days, usually days when I'm having other allergy problems as well, my skin itches constantly and flares red at the slightest tough. That's annoying, but what's really bad is that this weird sensitivity extends to my feet. I have something like seven blisters right now. I was wearing comfortable, practical shoes that I've had for over a year, yet footwear choice doesn't seem to matter. I could have worn stilettos and have had the same problem (and no doubt have been more memorable at the workshops, to boot-- no pun intended). Life isn't fair. And my feet hurt. Especially my right heel and the inside of my left foot, where a gigantic chunk of skin kind of came off of its own accord.

Yes, I know that you didn't want to know that. But it's my blog. Nyah.

I notice that this entry is short on linkage, so here's an excellent timewaster, courtesy of field correspondent Aunt Beast: Swat the linky.

I should get back to reading my thrilling pedagogy handouts. I'll have to make time for Reno 911! tonight, though. A heads up: If you're not watching that, you should be. Friggin' hilarious.

Elvisette philosophized at 7:54 PM