teaching quote to think on

“I care about the discipline of philosophy more than the academic fate of any individual student — and I think I should,” he said. “Otherwise I’m just a baby sitter who occasionally breaks into syllogism.” --Kelly Jolley, Auburn University philosophy professor, in the NY Times.

I see where he's coming from. He's expanding on his statement that he shouldn't have to dumb down the field to appeal to the average student. He says philosophy isn't for everyone. But isn't some version of philosophy for everyone? Maybe it's just harder to get some students to think philosophically.

I'm currently frustrated with the low level of discussion in my composition classes. Not all comp classes are like this. It has to be something I'm doing--probably the fact that I'm not interested in our field of inquiry and I don't research in it. Because I'm not an expert, it's more difficult for me to bring them to more sophisticated levels of argument. I'm tired of having to teach things that don't actually interest me, which is why Jolley's quote got my attention. I need to find some things that interest both me and the students. I need to create a bridge between us.