I was offered a VAP, with adjunct pay, but with benefits. Originally I was going to teach one class four times. Boring, but it meant I could take the other two classes I had agreed to teach and make a bit more money.
As of Tuesday there were two preps, more than likely three. That means the extra cash classes were a no-go. Also, the classes they wanted me to teach would all require me driving across the metroplex every morning during rush hour. Not so much.
It took me two days to write and say no, but I did it. I am glad.
There were some good things about it, but not enough.
A friend at another college across the state had her creative writing class write 6-word stories. She also asked for additional suggestions from her Facebook friends.
Then her class voted on their favorites. And the winners were:
She can’t remember who loves her. (Kenneth H)
Always remember to kiss me goodnight. (Lori R)
Dear Lord/Bad Day/Please Help. (Chuck F)
Went for drinks. Never came back. (Susan W)
Did not study. Re-taking the class. (Keith R)
Hands held. Lives meshed. 60 years. (Dr. Davis, top vote getter)
You’re sorry. I’m sorry. What now? (Amy J)
New love. New memories. Old wounds. (Hilary W)
At work. On facebook. Got fired. (Elizabeth W, #2 vote getter).
One bended knee. One response: “Yes!” (Ben Wall)
“I do” lasted them until death. (Brandon F, #3 vote getter)
Prom dress. Hotel room. Courage. Rejoicing. (Trisha W)
Family of four. Cancer. Now three. (Ann A)
College bound. Dream found. Beautiful sound. (Saundra W)
Curmudgeon responds in Tenure and the Bogeyman saying that tenure protects the good teachers from the whims of administration.
Before (read 5 years ago), I would have been against tenure. However, my experiences recently have changed that.
First, if the teacher is bad, the administration can get rid of them. They just have to be willing to do it. I know it is not fun to do and so many people aren’t willing to do it. Well, guess what? They won’t be willing to fire without tenure either.
If a teacher is bad, the administration has the right and the obligation to be rid of them. Tenure does not usually stop that. Laziness and fear do.
I’ve heard this from a VP who got rid of bad tenured teachers. Good for him!
Second, what is the alternative to tenure? Three year contracts? One college where a friend of mine works has lost thirty people who had three year contracts. Six were immediately dismissed. The college broke their contracts. Twenty plus have been let go on their non-renewal. Most of these are people who have worked for the school for 20+ years. So, they came on as a young PhD, stayed with the school, did their job, and now are being let go, not for cause.
Some of the releases are because the administration has decided to hire more friends. Those friends need spots.
It’s also a financial issue. Hey, get rid of the older people making $60K and hire ones who make $40K. 20×20=$400,000 a year in savings. Yes, every little bit counts, but only if there are more little bits. There aren’t.
So, yeah, I’m starting to think tenure is a good thing.
The Chronicle has an article by a college president on how his parody on YouTube has “gone viral” and how it has increased donations to the college.
Lots of folks are seeing it, including some from
countries including Pakistan, Japan, Spain, Singapore, and China—where one alumnus, from the class of 1950 no less, managed to circumvent the national blockage of YouTube and get the video directly from the college’s server.
I love that the Chinese alum got to see it (and got past their governmental restrictions!).
He offers the lessons he learned from the experience. Some of these are more germane to my life.
Second, the notion that new social media are exclusively the province of the young or the technically savvy is mistaken.
I think this is something that people forget in our colleges. We don’t have to be young or particularly hip to take advantage of the internet.
Third, we should never underestimate the power of humor and of positive messaging, particularly during periods of great social and economic stress.
I like this idea a lot. Humor is positive and can be uplifting, especially in seasons of difficulty.
This report provides evidence answering the following three questions:
1. Does writing about material students read enhance their reading comprehension?
2. Does teaching writing strengthen students’ reading skills?
3. Does increasing how much students write improve how well they read?
Since I am interviewing for jobs, I take note when there is something up about the job process. These were suggestions from Community College Dean on what to ask at the interview:
On the other hand, if the questions are about outcomes assessment, efforts to improve student success rates, and ways that new professors can get involved on campus, that tells me a lot, too. Choose your questions carefully, and come prepared with several.
Like a piece of ice on a hot stove the poem must ride on its own melting. ~Robert Frost
To many people poetry remains trapped and frozen in a block of impenatrable ice. We cannot understand or appreciate it. We come to it cold and we leave it frostbitten. So how do we melt a poem?
“Poetry struck me as an arbitrary and capricious method of avoiding clarity, and where my betters heard lyricism I kept hearing foolishness. If the poem said, “Go, lovely rose!” I found myself thinking, “Scram, Rose. On the double. Take a powder, rose.” ~Jean Kerr, Penny Candy
The post continues at The Common Room, a blog by a homeschooling mother.
I was offered a VAP, with adjunct pay, but with benefits. Originally I was going to teach one class four times. Boring, but it meant I could take the other two classes I had agreed to teach and make a bit more money.
Since I am interviewing for jobs, I take note when there is something up about the job process. These were suggestions from Community College Dean on what to ask at the interview:
