30 hours of work and 21 hours of class, is already 51 hours. Add two commutes. Compare to what we used to do: 15 hours of class, no work and no commute. Still we did not have time for many evenings or weekend days off from studying. Axé.
“It led to a forgetting. Of self, of work, of relationship to self and work and others.” Read the whole post. Actually it is quite common to be told to do as one is told, because if one does not follow instructions precisely, one will fall off a cliff. Of course it is only sometimes … More A most interesting post from Moria. On strategy
In convivial institutions (and the societies they make up) modern technologies serve ‘politically interrelated individuals rather than managers’. (Illich 1975: 12). Such institutions are characterized by ‘their vocation of service to society, by spontaneous use of and voluntary participation in them by all members of society (Gajardo 1994: 716). Ivan Illich (1975a) uses “convivial” as … More Illich, again
Some things to do: – review 1 book – resubmit at least 1 if not 2 mss., or put them together into 1 and submit – rework departmental and own websites – seriously prepare all classes – visit bookstores – rifle through current print journals at at least 1 major library – do annual report … More Winter Break
In the spring, I will teach Tuesdays and Thursdays. All classes are senior level, the easiest level, and I have taught these particular courses before. Mondays, I will do research and then prepare classes. Wednesdays, I will do research, prepare classes and occasionally attend a meeting. I will grade and hold office hours Tuesday and … More Spring Semester
I am harvesting blood oranges. Usually they are killed by hurricanes or frost, but now there are very many, red and sweet. We are finishing the semester, so of course it is orange-time. The academic advisors keep saying you must save time, “protect” it like a fortress, but with all due respect to time, I … More On Space
Tonight my student took a picture of our class “to document ourselves since we are a historical event: the first course ever given on [genre] at this university.” This was after I spent a weekend writing a curriculum for a new major. Earlier this semester I had been informed that my courses on [genres, topics] … More Un retrato sorprendente
Graduate students ought to be able to complete course work in two years, says the President of the MLA. From the BA, two years of coursework, then two of examination and thesis, and that is all. What do you think of this? Doesn’t it reduce the PhD to what the MA once was and still … More A Question on Russell Berman
After twenty years I have figured out of whom I could have asked the question I had. I really had not thought of it. I was very frustrated because I asked so many people whom I might ask, and none even recognized my question. But in at least some cases, it might have been that … More Que sais-je?
I do not “manage time” as well as I once did and it is because at a certain point, I realized it was not possible. I do not have the power to make the kinds of decisions I have been able to make on use of time I have had in other academic jobs I … More A Radical Thought on Time Management
coldhearted scientist وداد 