WAG - How I was more productive and learned more by not going to class
I’m sorry. I skipped class today because my English Literature of the 18th Century class has become a joke.
Let me explain…
I should have taken the concept of having an English class in the Cornell Hall, or the “Business Building,” as a warning to be cautious. I didn’t think it was dubious at first, but after so many people repeated the facts with a questioning tone (“You have an English class…in Cornell?”), I began to wonder if that was a bad sign.
I should have paid closer attention to the omen at the beginning of the class when the very first thing the professor did was show up late. She’d had the wrong room assignment. Now, over half way through the semester, part of me feels like she’s never quite gotten back to the class she’s supposed to be teaching.
We seemed to have focused on everything but the literature itself. I like having the social and historical context of the authors as well as having parallels drawn between the 1700's and the modern day, but it has gone to the extreme.
We talk about feminism so much, even when talking about male authors, a less than acute student in the class (I don’t mean to stereotype him as a slacker or anything, but he has admitted to much drug use) one asked, “Do we get Women’s Studies credit for this class too?”
The last class period we watched 30 minutes of the 1978 classic "The Buddy Holly Story." The rationale was that novels were “movies” of the time period, and the teacher wanted to look at a scene where the new Rock and Roll music was framed between scenes featuring Country and Gospel Music. No offense to Gary Busey, or any of the re-created Crickets, but that’s getting ridiculous.
Whenever we break into small groups for discussions, the topic typically goes back to, “Are you learning anything in this class?”
To answer this question, and the rationale why my time today was better spent on my own, here are some selections from my English 324 notebook:
-------------------------------------------------
Welcome to English 324
Walking into a classroom you think is yours and finding is deserted – bad.
Walking into a classroom you think is your and finding it filled with students who inform you you’re wrong – worse.
What’s your definition of retired?
The teacher is retired – but is returning for two classes. Interesting.
Why have a multimedia presentation when you could use a glorified flashlight and some stacked books?
In a room lined with internet ports, a digital projector hanging from the ceiling, and plug ins at every seat, we are reduced to using a slide projector.
Not the first time and probably not the last.
Note: It wasn't.
Teacher’s test of whether you really like something: You’d rather be sleepy and do the activity THAN rest and not do it.
This is also the weighing process used by the students who sleep through class.
On the expansion between 1680 and 1790: “By this point, the world had largely been explored – or at least decently mapped.”
My reading of her implied message: Can we say “Imperialism” boys and girls?
Stream of consciousness rant after accidentally shooting off the tip of my pen:
Crap – My pen busted. Zing. Nice arc. I’m sure the people in front of me appreciated that. Crud…
Oh, am I the only one not here right now?
There are few things like swapping written assignments and perusing the first paragraph of your neighbor’s paper, and suddenly thinking to yourself, “Are we in the same class?”
Teacher: “Enjoy the intellectual journal. When you ask questions – you need now answer them.”
Answer to previous question: No.
[Insert long passages written for Creative Writing in lieu of ramblings on social values]
Why classes should engage you and not leave your mind to wander; especially when you’re sick: I feel tired, kinda sickly, and can hardly wait for my digestive system to stop realigning itself… Ow, ow, ow.
I’ll take Self-Explanatory Definitions for $500, Alex
Teacher, unknowingly playing Jeopardy: “If this story were made up, it’d feel less real.”
What the Class is thinking: What is the distinction between fiction and non-fiction?
[During discussion of “The Rover,” about a roguish pirate, insert several drawing of sword-fighting figures saying things like “Avast!”]
During a discussion concerning the devotion people have to their sports teams:
Student: ”All we have in Nebraska are the Huskers.”
Teacher: ”That’s not true. You have Willa Cather.”
Me thinking: Does anyone want to tell her she’s dead?
Written account of common classroom struggle:
Must fight urge to stick keys in electrical socket in order to get out of lecture early.
Coca-Cola is good for cleaning. Don’t ask.
After drawing a pictorial representation of a remote control and pressing the “buttons” feverously:
Note to self, drawing a FFWD button on a scrap piece of paper and pressing it repeatedly during a boring lecture will NOT have the same effect as a remote on a tv.
-But it was still worth trying.
Musings on the business school somewhat sinister room layouts - where the curtains lower at the flick of a switch.
As they all descend uniformly at the same time, slowly casting the room into shadows, I find myself saying, “How conveniently creepy and how creepily convenient.”
Trying to figure out the right adjective for the above scene:
Is it 'How Illuminati-y, -est, -like?'
Conclusion of a 10-minute discussion on a confusing passage that no one comprehended:
If you don’t understand the first half of the metaphor, you’re probably going to be screwed when drawing conclusions in the second half.
Beware of the lessons people might draw after a taxing, tiring debate:
If “misogyny” makes you think of “Me so horny,” you have a problem.
Another common classroom urge:
If you have the urge to peel the “USED” sticker off your dog-eared textbook ant want to affix it to your own forehead, you certainly had a rough lecture.
-------------------------------------------
Here’s my answer for those still asking, “But did you learn something?”
Yes.
It may not have been something on the syllabus, but yes I did.
'Class_preemptively_dismissed_by_class'
