An opened mind is a liberal mind. An educated mind is an opened mind. I can't think of a better reason to get involved.
On the inside:
A student's words about the cost of education, written a couple of weeks ago, as part of an assignment in a general education course. Regrettably, this student may lose her ability to afford college because of the slashing of the federal student loan program. She probably doesn't know it yet. The people who voted for this outrage ought to be the ones to tell her. While they are at it, they should tell her about why they are doing it. But that will no doubt be left up to someone like me.
A college union (AAUP) is looking for an organization in the Katrina disaster area that needs funds.
Almost anything you want to discuss that is related to teaching or learning or education is fair game.
All aboard...
One of my students wrote the following. Her college education is possible because she qualifies for financial aid and low cost student loans. She is of Haitian origin, if anyone finds that important, a first generation American immigrant, and about 20 years old. I pulled these two paragraphs out of a longer piece, but it is otherwise unedited.
[Published with permission.]
"As exciting as college is when we get there, the cost of staying there is not so thrilling. It is sometimes stressful to receive the cost of going to school through the mail. Some colleges reach as high as $5,000 per semester or more. Applying for the FASFA [sic] and financial aid takes a lot out of a student and their parents because we know we can't pay the entire bill ourselves. I guess that is the cost to experience something so great.
"It takes a lot of money to go to college. Financially it hurts, but it shouldn't have to be the main focus when it comes to learning. Challenging yourself by learning new things or working towards your career goal is what college is all about. Meeting new people of all ages and understanding how the world is, is what college is all about."
--Christina Lemaine
Union looking for agency to support
We (the AAUP at Bloomfield College) are looking for an independent agency that operates in the disaster area in need of funds in order to reopen. We want our donation to really matter and not go through the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. Suggestions are welcome.
I'll be hanging around most of the day, actively waiting for your comments (actually, I'll be at home grading stuff and preparing classes), so at least one person will be here to discuss whatever anyone wants to discuss.
The Not-so-many Rules
No general bashing of administrators, politicians, etc, just on general principles. If you want to bash them, have a point and a plan.No bitching about students unless your talking about what you are going to do to alleviate the problems you think the students have.Introductions are encouraged, but not essential.I have no investment in hosting the Teacher's Lounge. If someone else thinks they can and wants to do it better, cool. I just want the space. And not for teachers only, but respecting the general theme of teaching and learning.Teacher's Lounge can be "slow blogging" if you want it to be. You don't get quality writing if you demand velocity. It doesn't have to be the case that something posted today is dead by tomorrow. I would like it to eventually be up and active 24/7, but that may have to wait until I have developed an independent blog site.
Every Saturday I'll post a clean slate, between 10am and 11am EST.