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I just had to share this with anyone who might "get" it. I had a moment of academic self-realization yesterday. NOT Snape or HP-related, so feel free th skip if you have absolutely zero interest. :-)
A friend of mine in my PhD program was asked to teach a course on policy to bachelor's level social work students. She knows NOTHING about policy. I, on the other hand, am all about policy and social work. She calls me up:
(approximation of our conversation)
J: My students are asking me about TANF. What is TANF? Isn't it just regular welfare?
G: Yes, TANF is 'regular' welfare. It is the operationalization of PRWORA of 1996.
J: Huh? The what of 96?
G: Goes into what PRWORA is...
J: So what about regular welfare, AFDC? All I know about welfare is SSI and stuff. I'm a clinical person!!!
G: Goes into why and how AFDC is now TANF...
J: How do you KNOW all this stuff?
G: (pause) Um, because I teach it?
J: Yeah, but before that.
G: Um, I learned it at school and I keep up to date on this stuff. Say, aren't you teaching from a textbook? Don't you at least have that to go by?
J: Yeah, well, I'm going chapter by chapter, but my students are coming up with this stuff before we get to it.
G: Well, you sometimes have to anticipate questions they might have. Didn't you read ahead in the book before starting to teach the class?
J: Um, no. What should I read?
G: :groans to self: Which book are you reading?
J: The DeNitto Book.
G: Ugh Ok, read chapters 4, 5, and 6. Also, I'll give you some handouts with easy reference to some of this stuff. Come to my office on Wednesday and I'll give you copies of some handouts I have for my students. Anyway, students love handouts.
J: Thanks.
Realization #1: I can explain major legislation off the top of my head.
Realization #2: I have the textbook she's using, even though I hate it (I have an actual opinion about a textbook!) and though I don't use it in my classes, and can easily tell her what chapters to read by going through the table of contents and flipping through the sections.
Realization #3: I can refer her to other authors and various readings on the subject off the top of my head.
Realization #4: This is what all the professors I've admired are able to do.
Now all I have to do is finish my PhD program and get that tenure track faculty position!
x-posted to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
academics_anon
A friend of mine in my PhD program was asked to teach a course on policy to bachelor's level social work students. She knows NOTHING about policy. I, on the other hand, am all about policy and social work. She calls me up:
(approximation of our conversation)
J: My students are asking me about TANF. What is TANF? Isn't it just regular welfare?
G: Yes, TANF is 'regular' welfare. It is the operationalization of PRWORA of 1996.
J: Huh? The what of 96?
G: Goes into what PRWORA is...
J: So what about regular welfare, AFDC? All I know about welfare is SSI and stuff. I'm a clinical person!!!
G: Goes into why and how AFDC is now TANF...
J: How do you KNOW all this stuff?
G: (pause) Um, because I teach it?
J: Yeah, but before that.
G: Um, I learned it at school and I keep up to date on this stuff. Say, aren't you teaching from a textbook? Don't you at least have that to go by?
J: Yeah, well, I'm going chapter by chapter, but my students are coming up with this stuff before we get to it.
G: Well, you sometimes have to anticipate questions they might have. Didn't you read ahead in the book before starting to teach the class?
J: Um, no. What should I read?
G: :groans to self: Which book are you reading?
J: The DeNitto Book.
G: Ugh Ok, read chapters 4, 5, and 6. Also, I'll give you some handouts with easy reference to some of this stuff. Come to my office on Wednesday and I'll give you copies of some handouts I have for my students. Anyway, students love handouts.
J: Thanks.
Realization #1: I can explain major legislation off the top of my head.
Realization #2: I have the textbook she's using, even though I hate it (I have an actual opinion about a textbook!) and though I don't use it in my classes, and can easily tell her what chapters to read by going through the table of contents and flipping through the sections.
Realization #3: I can refer her to other authors and various readings on the subject off the top of my head.
Realization #4: This is what all the professors I've admired are able to do.
Now all I have to do is finish my PhD program and get that tenure track faculty position!
x-posted to
academics_anon
