Old Brown Shoe

"Live the question."

-Rilke
 
A mentor is a pretty cool thing to have. I have one that likes to complain about his student's inability to understand prepositions ("They have the preposition sheet right in front of them! What do they mean 'Slow down'?!?!?!?") and one that, well, that's always been good for a thought-shock quote like the one above. Professor M. taught me how to write poetry when I went to school here at the community college. "You made the first cardinal mistake," he said when I came to work the first day. "You came back." Mea culpa, Phil, mea culpa. I proceeded to ask him the ever-so enlightened question, "How do I teach them, Phil?"

Though they are "reprobate little bastards," they aren't idiots. Don't let them know you like the novel they're reading for class, because then they will hate it on principle. During class discussions, don't give them the choice. They discuss what you want to discuss. Start out with comprehension, move toward theme based, then a final essay about the novel. Screw John Langan. Explain the grammar problem first, then the solution. Teach them to recognize. Education majors come out of college with methods, but no content; English majors come out of college with (too much) content, but no methods. "Live the question."

He also gave me two books, one to keep and another to borrow: A Commonsense Guide to Grammar and Usage, (which already is miles ahead of friggin' Langan), and Errors & Expectations: A Guide for the Teacher of Basic Writing.

He's sending my bill with my diploma.

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