Re: Door Slamming/Question

[Stephen Newmann <newmann@msmary.edu>]

I was an English major because I love literature.  I became a "teacher of
English" because it was what I could do with my degrees.  I discovered
immediately that I love teaching as much as I love literature.  I teach
writing now because my students did not love literature and I found it
frustrating "having" to "motivate" them enough so that we could all derive
some pleasure out of something that was obviously wonderful.  I find it
much easier to "turn students on" to writing than to literature.  I guess
I just can't take as much for granted with writing as with lit.  Anyway,
I'd have been pretty content to have earned my degrees even if I'd never
had the opportunity to teach.  I work hard at dis-abusing my students of
the notion that their college education is somehow directly linked to
their intended careers.  But then, I'm affiliated with a Liberal Arts
Institution and we all know about them thar liberals.....  --stephen
 *====================================================================*
 |   Stephen Newmann                                                  |
 |   Department of Rhetoric & Writing     VOICE: (301) 447-5367       |
 |   Mount Saint Mary's College           E-MAIL: NEWMANN@MSMARY.EDU  |
 |   Emmitsburg, Maryland USA 21727-7799                              |
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 :)