My take on 'why the tears' doesn't require anything sophisticated. Many of
us are in education because we care. Like many other professionals with
great demands, the myth Kathie related shows us our weaker sides, how we
can falter under the circumstances, despite our best intentions. That is
worthy of tears.
And of course there are those who would not stay to hear the whole myth,
who would not waste their time thinking twice about it. That is also
worthy of tears. Yet I only feel anger and resolution which, I suppose, is
my conditioned response as a man.
>On Tue, 12 May 1998, Katherine Goff wrote
>> This folk tale/myth reveals a lot about teachers' values and beleifs, but
>> reverse causality, teacher/student relationship, affective learning,
>> prolepsis-I think they're all embedded.
>
> yes, like you Kathie, i've noticed that this myth - and i think
>it's one of those suburban white middle-class myths like the one about the
>$500 Porsche, or drying out kittens in micro-waves, etc. - and too i've
>been startled by the outpouring of tears and the hasty passing about of
>the box of tissues - and i've noticed that all the men, all three or
>four of them - are quite dry-eyed, and i'm feeling a bit bewildered.
>because in truth i can't figure out at all exactly what this is saying
>about teachers' values and beliefs - unless, do teachers actually see
>themselves as the paragon teacher in the myth? If so, i wonder how it is
>that medical schools have survived such a rush of students - and i can't
>think of a wedding i've been at where the teacher was an honored guest -
>or is this a story about how teachers, rather than students, _aren't_
>seen, recognized, honored ..... is this what the tears are about?
>
>phillip
Bill Barowy, Associate Professor
Technology in Education
Lesley College, 29 Everett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-2790
Phone: 617-349-8168 / Fax: 617-349-8169
_______________________
"One of life's quiet excitements is to stand somewhat apart from yourself
and watch yourself softly become the author of something beautiful."
[Norman Maclean in "A river runs through it."]