2C (not two cents)

4th November 2009

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it's a little bit unsettling

so, i’m not the nicest teacher. i’m a tough grader, i give a lot of homework, i like things done a specific way. yet, so far more than 1/3 of my students from this semester have registered for my sections next semester.

i like them; they’re good students. but i’m not sure why they like me. not everyone has had registration appointments yet - mine isn’t until the 12th. i’m curious as to how it shakes out after all the schedules are finalized.

i’m looking at textbooks and starting lesson plans. i’m lobbying hard for a textbook that i think has a lot of relevance and is more accessible than our other choices. i’m thinking of things we can do to work on formal argumentation. i’m considering teaching Toulmin. the Greeks are on the list. i may do visual rhetoric. it’s going to be tough. i hope they still like me when it’s over :)

i’m in the middle of an on-going dispute with my office mate. i lock my computer, purse, ipod and messenger back in my office for a few minutes here or there. often, when i come back, the door is open and she is nowhere to be found. my desk is the closest to the door and my things are almost in arm’s reach of people passing in the hall. i already had a shuffle go missing this way. she refuses to change her behavior even though it’s dept policy that office doors are locked when no one is in them. our chair sends around weekly reminder to the effect because there have been a lot of thefts in the building and we’re trying to make it a less appealing target.

i was supposed to receive some resolution on the topic today, but i didn’t. i’m pretty unhappy about it.

i don’t want to be her officemate for three more years but i also don’t want to give up my other roomies. ideally, they’d stick her in a broom closet, but i’m not holding my breath.