School vs. Learning
I've always believed that school is a place for learning. Of course, there are various things to learn outside of class. And that's fine and good. But I take particular issue with classes where the teachers seem unable to actually teach anything in class, and you are instead left to your own devices.
This happened in my two chemistry classes in undergrad. Ok, there were three classes. But I dropped out of organic chemistry. Why? There didn't seem to be any "teaching". Instead, they said, "read this text book, then passively view these notes I put up on the over head while I drone on and on about things." I was unable to pay the least bit of attention. So I stopped. The only reason I continued my first two chemistry courses (and, in the end, did quite well) is because my TA and the two lab partners I had took the time to teach me. Were it not for them, I likely would have failed those two classes. Or at least came damn close. Sadly, there was no discussion or lab in my organic chemistry. My original lab partners were also not in my class. So - I dropped out after my first exam.
I am currently experiencing a similar circumstance in law school. There is little teaching going on in my writing class - instead, I'm given a new assignment, then feedback later, but it seems we are instead left to figure this out on our own. And, furthering this frustration, we are severely limited in communicating with classmates or other people for fear that we will cheat or some such thing. Which, while tempting, I realize wouldn't do me a damn bit of good once I actually got into practice. Also, the class seems to be made up as they go along. And it isn't done well. For anyone that ever watched improv comedy done poorly - it seems like that. Everyone sort of cringes and wishes it was better. But it's not.
*sigh* Just had to get that out there. Wherever "there" is.
This happened in my two chemistry classes in undergrad. Ok, there were three classes. But I dropped out of organic chemistry. Why? There didn't seem to be any "teaching". Instead, they said, "read this text book, then passively view these notes I put up on the over head while I drone on and on about things." I was unable to pay the least bit of attention. So I stopped. The only reason I continued my first two chemistry courses (and, in the end, did quite well) is because my TA and the two lab partners I had took the time to teach me. Were it not for them, I likely would have failed those two classes. Or at least came damn close. Sadly, there was no discussion or lab in my organic chemistry. My original lab partners were also not in my class. So - I dropped out after my first exam.
I am currently experiencing a similar circumstance in law school. There is little teaching going on in my writing class - instead, I'm given a new assignment, then feedback later, but it seems we are instead left to figure this out on our own. And, furthering this frustration, we are severely limited in communicating with classmates or other people for fear that we will cheat or some such thing. Which, while tempting, I realize wouldn't do me a damn bit of good once I actually got into practice. Also, the class seems to be made up as they go along. And it isn't done well. For anyone that ever watched improv comedy done poorly - it seems like that. Everyone sort of cringes and wishes it was better. But it's not.
*sigh* Just had to get that out there. Wherever "there" is.
posted by Warchief at 4:30 PM
1 Comments:
From what I understand, teaching writing is VERY hard. Most of the good writers I have met usually have had a 'son-of-a-bitch!' moment when, after being told repeatedly by a number of people that their writing leaves much to be desired, they too recognize the crappiness of their prose.
The problem is that bad or even plain writing is kinda like pornography. I can't define it, but I know it when I see it.
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