Rest of the Story
Sorry for the mystery the other day...the Journal entry on the 27th. And also sorry I can't spend more time explaining, but am jammed up against some other events 'bout now. So in a nutshell, here's the scoop:
I got a call Monday from the chair of the bio department at Radford University. He wanted to know if I was interested in teaching a class. In the shock of the sudden call, I wasn't sure I'd gotten all the facts right, so met with him today. Sure enough, I'd misunderstood a couple of things--for instance, I thot he said it was a class that needed 8 to go and had 5. But in fact, it is a class of 60-something whose regular prof will go to Abingdon to teach a grad class if it gets 8, leaving the big undergrad one for me. So, I've agreed in principle to teach a biology-for-non-majors class (called environmental biology) but won't know for a week or more if I'll be needed.
Of course, I have to plan as if it will be a "go." New class, first time taught with this text and syllabus; wide open, ranging around some core parts that should be included. It has been 17 years since I held a piece of chalk (they DO still use that stuff in modern classrooms, don't they?) Terrifying and exhilarating. You'll hear more. But frankly, it will mean some significant changes to the energy and time put toward the weblog, photography and other joys and duties. First class is in three weeks. I'm up to my elbows in alligators!
It seems to have come along at about as good a time as possible, really. I can see this branching out in all sorts of directions, and we even talked about "environmental writing" and such today. Can't say where it will go, but I have the feeling I'll look back and see that it was good. Not lucrative, not easy. But the most gratifying victories rarely are. Thanks for hanging with me, all. It's been a wild ride.
Comments
Chalk. Ha. Good one.
Posted by: Trey | July 28, 2004 11:07 PM
Go for it. The classes versus the weblog? Maybe fewer live-in-person people listening and learning on one side; and on the other, the immediate gratification and stimulation from a live audience. We all wish you the best, I'm sure.
Posted by: susan | July 29, 2004 12:11 AM
Fred, you'll be great at this! During college I took a literature course where we read writings about nature-Pilgram at Tinker Creek and that sort of thing-that was paired with an Environmental Science course. I've thought about it more than once while reading your blog. Go for it.
Posted by: Susanne | July 29, 2004 9:08 AM
Glad you decided to go for it, Fred. As a student myself, I have a great respect for teachers who are willing to veer from the well traveled trails onto the smaller paths along the way. I'm guessing you'll be one of those professors. Safe travels, and good luck.
~Mara
Posted by: Mara | July 29, 2004 9:10 AM
yay fred! ru has some good biology people and some good environmental writers in other depts here and there. as an adjunct member, you'll probably like it here.
Posted by: bud | July 29, 2004 10:03 AM
Fred--You'll do fine, and we can compare notes and commiserate, hey. Sometimes the way to get the most and best work out of me is to SQUEEZE and SQUEEZE HARD. Maybe that'll work for you, too. Have a safe trip. Where in Missouri??
Posted by: Tom Montag | July 29, 2004 1:49 PM
Fred, have yourself an adventure.
I think you'll do just fine.
There may be a time of adjustment,
but you have the skills to make this course memorable for those students.
Posted by: David St Lawrence | July 31, 2004 6:53 PM
I started teaching 4 years ago with just one class - it seemed like a lark to me. Now I teach 4 a year and it has become the activity that i love the most. Not the least because it has connected me to some wonderful young folks.
Now several work with me and many have become good friends
Posted by: Robert Paterson | August 1, 2004 8:31 AM