When a student develops an argument that I find deeply offensive to the only kind of collective identity that I acknowledge and maintain, I’m torn between the personal outrage and the desire to honor the student’s freedom to believe whatever s/he wants. The latter always wins but it is a harsh struggle.
11 responses to “Torn”
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I find it helpful to believe in poetic justice. If my view is really the most healthy one and the most fully developed, those who don’t embrace it are welcome to sink their own water level. It has nothing to do with me. I’m happy with my knowledge, but they might find that their ideas lead them into troubled waters.
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“If my view is really the most healthy one and the most fully developed, those who don’t embrace it are welcome to sink their own water level. It has nothing to do with me. I’m happy with my knowledge, but they might find that their ideas lead them into troubled waters.”
– Yeah! I like this!
OK, thank you, this really helps.
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When I was 14 y/o, we read a story in our Ukrainian lit class, in which a ‘young naive’ woman becomes pregnant. She has no opportunity to tell the child’s father because he’d gone to war. The man returns to the small town years later. When the woman greets him with the news that they have a child together, he dismisses both of them. All he can care about is being a war hero.
In class, all discussion centered around dissing the guy. However, in my short essay I focused on analyzing / criticizing the woman and her role in the situation. I got a B. When I asked the teacher why, she replied that she could not bring herself to agree with me. She said that I had a strong and cohesive argument but that it was my point of view that bothered her.
And look at it – 17 years later I still can’t get over it. 🙂
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Everybody is filled with profound wisdom today.
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If you like a paycheck you honor the student, no matter how naive they are. At least that’s what I learned while teaching college.
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“the only kind of collective identity that I acknowledge and maintain”
Hey, nobody ever said that being a Vivien Leigh fan was all fun and games…
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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// the only kind of collective identity that I acknowledge and maintain
If it isn’t a secret, what kind of id is it?
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The only issue in grading a paper is whether it is well argued and to the point. If so, it deserves a good grade. Your personal views are irrelevant unless they are irrefutable, like 1+2 = 3
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Yes. But I’m human, so it’s a struggle.
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Thanks for letting me know.
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A conservative literary critic and college professor
Clarissa's Blog 
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