I have taught Freshman Composition at Lamar University for twelve years. For four of these years, I have also been the director of the University Writing Center. In my close dealings with students throughout my teaching career, I have encouraged, urged, and consoled students. However, spending ...
For the first time in about 10 years I will not be in the classroom when the semester starts. I want to quickly reflect on what I’ll miss and what I won’t.What I’ll miss:
Students. I’ll really miss getting to know them and I’ll miss interacting with them and learning...
The term social media was a constant ring in everyone's ear in 2011 and will likely continue to make noise in 2012. The general consensus seems to be that if your business or organization is not engaged in some sort of social media platform, you're doing something wrong. It is certainly no dif...
It’s no secret that today’s students, raised on technology and nourished by social media, find the traditional classroom lecture difficult to attentively sit through. If students prefer texting to email because email takes too long to access and read, imagine how they perceive a 50- or 7...
For the first time in about 10 years I will not be in the classroom when the semester starts. I want to quickly reflect on what I’ll miss and what I won’t.
What I’ll miss:
Students. I’ll really miss getting to know them and I’ll miss interacting with them and learning about their lives.
Teaching. I will miss talking about the subjects I teach and sharing ideas and concepts, asking questions, and enlightening my students and myself.
The ego boost. I get a charge out of being in the classroom.
What I won’t miss:
Departmental colleagues. It's sad to say, but as an adjunct, I haven’t really had much to do with them for years, except when they decide they need something from me, most likely at the last minute. Then, and seemingly only then, do they remember that I even exist. They talk about collegiality and how important it is, and I agree, but they don't seem to know what the word really means. (There are a few who really are exceptions to this rule...but only a few.)
Paying for parking. As an adjunct, my school doesn’t reimburse me for parking at our downtown campus.
Grading. Generally not my favorite part of the job.
The pay...or lack thereof.
I don’t know when, or even if, I’ll be back to teaching. I truly loved my time in the classroom, but ultimately, my situation was not sustainable, financially and otherwise.
What would you miss? What would you be happy to leave behind?
Bob Ertischek
Barbara, I will never say never. I'd love to be in the classroom right this minute, but not as an adjunct. The precarious nature of the job, the emotional toll and lack of respect from full-time faculty, and of course, the miniscule pay is just not worth it.
Vanessa Vaile
continuing with the network keeps you "passing it forward" and, in a way, still teaching, just in a different mode and to different learners -- a different. Try not to think too long on doctors making the worst patients...
August 30, 2014
Rich OlexaI really hope to see a paradigm shift in how adjunct faculty members are treated at institutions of higher learning, and am really saddened to hear that a clearly passionate person is moving on. That being said, I totally understand why. Recently, I was i... moreI really hope to see a paradigm shift in how adjunct faculty members are treated at institutions of higher learning, and am really saddened to hear that a clearly passionate person is moving on. That being said, I totally understand why. Recently, I was in a meeting where a full-time tenured faculty member questioned the "adjunctification" of higher-ed to a high level administrator. His reply: "The trend will be more adjuncts, not more full time faculty. It is what it is." If that's the case, something will have to give. Even that overused shortened term - adjuncts - has become a pejorative. I've heard student assistants use in a disparaging manner, and in my humble opinion, they are just mirroring what they see around them. Organizing... Walking away... I don't know what will help change the situation, and I can't even claim to have a solution. I just hope that we all do what we can to change the paradigm. Let's start with one thing: Let's use the whole term - adjunct faculty member(s). less
August 31, 2014
Robert OstrowThis is Bob. I miss being in the classroom and enjoying the student interaction and contributions on term papers. Students, when given the chance, relate experiences that make sociology a better and more richer field. I had to step aside for awhile. becau... moreThis is Bob. I miss being in the classroom and enjoying the student interaction and contributions on term papers. Students, when given the chance, relate experiences that make sociology a better and more richer field. I had to step aside for awhile. because of my health, and the fact I am working on projects on teaching students voluntarily, in private computer environments. I am not a scholar, or some know it all, I learned sociological theory and methods to teach about a micro problem. Teaching is a rich profession if you keep everything into context. With Bob we have a person who has survived the rigors of adjunct professor status. less
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