1. COME TO CLASS.....I need you, my students, to come into my
classroom. While it may be possible to "get" the final outcome of the
class, it is never possible to duplicate the method, the particular
chemistry of the day, that got us there. Absences never can be "made
up" fully. We need to be physically in the classroom, so that we can
begin to see each other as human beings...so we can get a feel for who
we are, where we are, and to what new heights we can take each other
in our mutual education. I need for us to be in the classroom together
because I believe deeply that "self realization" is important and I want for
you what I want for me: I want us to arrive at the destination for which we
have been created.
Yes, this is a spiritual goal, but there are material benefits that accrue
from the journey: clear thinking, concise writing, intelligent conversing
are only three of the many. These material benefits help in at least one
critical area of contemporary life...the college career. They certainly
insure a successful one. I am interested, however, in our going far
beyond even a successful life career; I am interested in our having a
successful life! Anyone over a few years of age can tell you that being
alive in this world is oftentimes not smooth sailing. In fact, many people
will tell you that calm waters are rare in the course of a life and when
they do come, they are not the result of a successful career. All the
money in this world cannot prevent a single one of these storms.
So...what does? How can one find "the peace that the world cannot
give"? I don't know. But...I have a few ideas and beliefs. I believe that
there are some answers stored away in the vast warehouse of human
experience we call Literature. Digging through the genres (novel, short
story, poem, play, essay) it's more likely than not that we will find at least
some hints on how to not only ENDURE the stormiest of seas, but also
to PREVAIL over them and arrive in peaceful waters.
These are lofty goals and if such lofty goals could be achieved by
answering the questions at the end of the chapter, there wouldn't be
much need for either you or me to come to the classroom; but, because
we ourselves must formulate and ask the questions in order to best
benefit, WE NEED TO COME TO CLASS!!!
2. DO ALL THE READINGS....If you compare your "reading list" (if you
knew what it was) to the reading lists of others on your grade level in
other high schools, you will notice probably that you are not being asked
to read as many works as they are. Hmmmm! Why is that, you wonder?
Well, this is my rationale: I want you to discover "how" to read.
When you first began reading on the elementary level, there were
stories and poems. You were asked to read them and, of course,
answer "the questions" at the end. At that level, this served some
purpose. It checked to see whether or not you were understanding the
selection and it served to teach you that asking questions about the text
was not a bad idea.
You may have noticed that you are no longer on the elementary level;
you may also have noticed that the pieces you are asked to read still
have questions at the end of them. If you are anything like me, you are
absolutely sick of those questions at the end. When I ask myself why, I
get this answer: well...they're not MY questions. They don't want to find
out from the text what I want to know. In order to reinvigorate interest in
the text and support my contention that Literature is a mirror in which we
may, if we choose, see our "selves" more clearly, I am dedicated to
"conversing with the text". I ask it the questions that are important to ME
and I encourage YOU to do the same, because the text will answer and,
I think I can assure you, that some of its answers will surprise and
intrigue you. This is a time-consuming process and so it's not possible
to read as much as your peers in other schools. Is this damaging? I
think not. I am in favor of quality over quantity.
In a sense, this is like that old psaw about giving fish over and over or
teaching people how to fish for themselves. Once you learn how to
converse with the text, how to ask it the questions that are of deep
importance to you, you will have the skill and then you can do it
whenever you want with however many texts you want.
In order to do this for everyone, it is necessary that everyone read ALL of
the assignments ALL of the time. Given the fact that there are not an
overwhelming number of selections, this should not be a burden to
even a "slow" reader like myself. We are "idea people" by nature...each
one of us. Every idea has some value...even if is to solicity the response
"that's a terrible idea." Because each idea is important and because
each person gets ideas, it's vital to the success of our class that
everyone read the selection so that we can exchange ideas.
Therefore...the second requirement of ALL my Literature courses is to
READ ALL OF THE ASSIGNMENTS!
3. PARTICIPATE IN ALL DISCUSSIONS...There are many ways one can
participate in a discussion. There is, of course, speaking aloud and
there is intent listening. Both are participation. If a student is a little shy
about speaking in front of the group, he/she may keep a journal of daily
thoughts and reflections on the class and submit it to me weekly. I will
read it, comment on it, and return it. We will conduct a "particpatory
discussion" in this manner. If none of these methods suits you, please
suggest another. Whatever we arrive at, we MUST discusss. The
reason for this is simple. If thinking critically and clearly is one of our
goals, then I must have a way to observie whether or not you are doing
this. So....PARTICIPATION (in one way or another) IS ESSENTIAL!
4. KEEP A READING AND WRITING NOTEBOOK. This notebook is not at all like the notebooks which
you may keep for other classes. You are NOT to take down everything the teacher says. If
something I say interests you and you think you may want to reflect on it at a later date, then by all
means write it down. For the most part, however, I have very little to say that deserves a notation in
your Reading Writing Notebook. What IS worth noting, however, is your view of the world...the
thoughts that occur to you during your experience of the world...your particular way of thinking
about the world and everything in it. These views that you record are what I like to call "the stuff of
your life," and it is from this stuff that you get the materials to write your essays, poetry, short
stories, and plays. (Eventually, it will be the stuff from which you write your novels, too...but novels
at this stage of life are a rarity.) Because of the nature of this notebook, quantity isn't much of a
consideration, but quality certainly is. I think that you will find (if you are faithful to this notebook)
that you will come to enjoy noting the way you see things. I urge you to be faithful so that you can
experience this kind of fulfillment.
5. COMPLETE ALL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS...(more to come....)
