Kate, this is beautiful! I love how you respect your students and it is so heartwarming to know that they react to the teaching of literature so deeply. It reminds me of my kids' teachers during sixth form, who impressed me so much with the way they encouraged the students whilst keeping the real-world in mind. Have a wonderful family holiday time in Boston! :)
Aww...pleased to read it again myself now, and I've also get to catch up on a deeper read of all the Austen related joy from you and Janet. Will send some along to the kiddos. That's what the 16 hour plane ride is for 😅❤️
First off, these notes are excellent. Keep them coming. Second "Job done." sounds like an understatement! Do you possess Jedi powers? First Ibsen, then P&P? How? How did you pull it off, you're a magician! It's great. Love it. Almost makes me wish your courses were recorded and put on YouTube! Have a great trip and happy holidays!
Alexander, too kind! You'll be the first to know if the podcast is resurrected. P&P has arrived in the mail. I've never taught it, but it's fun to keep changing things up. Happy holidays to you and your family!
Wonderful post, Kate. Felt like I was catching little glimpses and viewpoints into your life teaching in Japan.
"So, yes, you have to be careful when you have books with such a topic. This one has it; so does the next. But also — they’re thinking about it, so let them talk about it. If we just push it aside in silence and fear, AI will give them the answers they think they want to hear." -- they are lucky to have you. Last year (feels weird saying that) I had several cases along these lines sort of handballed to me that I needed to deal with. We don't get any training for that; I can't help but feel we, or maybe I, need some training on what I should be doing and saying to help students who are struggling with life rather than simply biochemistry!
I'm so sorry you've had this experience recently. You are no doubt a very thoughtful and approachable professor, so it is unsurprising you might be trusted with this difficult information and burden (by students or other teachers/faculty). We maybe get slightly more training in secondary schools for this, but it still is far from a playbook. I've done some other reading about it due to the nature of students revealing their feelings in 'creative' writing frequently enough, and again it does not really prepare me for what to do or what is right. I try to keep work at work, but these feelings naturally bring one's empathy and worry well beyond the classroom. I guess I try to think what little bit we can do to be open and be there, to share where to get more help, and to be a positive influence and role model is what I try to keep at the front. That and diving right into texts that deal with the topic (as mentioned) but this is not something one would do in biochemistry (I think). Avoidance solves nothing. Well, maybe a reading club would do them well, or even a reading list. Hoping for them and for you. 💜
Thanks Kate. All excellent words and thoughts. The strange this is, we have an entire academic team dedicated to this, who students get referred to, but then they ended up simply sending students to me for final resolution of the issues. Frustrating and not ideal, in my opinion.
Beautiful, moving reflections, Kate. Hope this becomes a recurring feature! Made me want to abandon copywriting and return to teaching (or move to Fukuoka to take your classes).
Wishing you and your family safe travels and a peaceful holiday states-side. 💙
Really enjoyed these insights into your teaching, which seems to have such an open, respectful energy. This part -- which I see Nathan also flagged -- is sobering, and I think you're absolutely right. "But also — they’re thinking about it, so let them talk about it. If we just push it aside in silence and fear, AI will give them the answers they think they want to hear."
Kate, this is beautiful! I love how you respect your students and it is so heartwarming to know that they react to the teaching of literature so deeply. It reminds me of my kids' teachers during sixth form, who impressed me so much with the way they encouraged the students whilst keeping the real-world in mind. Have a wonderful family holiday time in Boston! :)
That's such a lovely note, Kate. I know you have teachers in the family as well so it means even more. Thank you!
Great wrap up of your new journey in Japan. I loved the last paragraph—so good, and true!
Thanks so much, Ariees. We try to make it worth it!
Have a safe trip and a lovely Christmas! x
Thanks Jules! Merry Christmas!
Alexander is right. You’re kind of amazing Kate. Such a brilliant teacher. I loved this. ❤️
Thanks for such a kind message, Ben. It helped to write it down. Sometimes I forget why I do it.
Oh this is a beautiful read, Kate ❤️ I'm already excited to read how the P&P discussions go–yay for basketball guy! Have a wonderful winter break.
Thanks Claire! I've just received the shipment of P&P, so an early Christmas gift for all the kids tomorrow. 🎉
Perfect! I’m ridiculously moved by that! 🥹❤️
Aww...pleased to read it again myself now, and I've also get to catch up on a deeper read of all the Austen related joy from you and Janet. Will send some along to the kiddos. That's what the 16 hour plane ride is for 😅❤️
Oh brilliant, enjoy! (And hopefully you can squeeze a Christmas movie in too ❤️😂)
First off, these notes are excellent. Keep them coming. Second "Job done." sounds like an understatement! Do you possess Jedi powers? First Ibsen, then P&P? How? How did you pull it off, you're a magician! It's great. Love it. Almost makes me wish your courses were recorded and put on YouTube! Have a great trip and happy holidays!
Alexander, too kind! You'll be the first to know if the podcast is resurrected. P&P has arrived in the mail. I've never taught it, but it's fun to keep changing things up. Happy holidays to you and your family!
Wonderful post, Kate. Felt like I was catching little glimpses and viewpoints into your life teaching in Japan.
"So, yes, you have to be careful when you have books with such a topic. This one has it; so does the next. But also — they’re thinking about it, so let them talk about it. If we just push it aside in silence and fear, AI will give them the answers they think they want to hear." -- they are lucky to have you. Last year (feels weird saying that) I had several cases along these lines sort of handballed to me that I needed to deal with. We don't get any training for that; I can't help but feel we, or maybe I, need some training on what I should be doing and saying to help students who are struggling with life rather than simply biochemistry!
Thanks so much, Nathan.
I'm so sorry you've had this experience recently. You are no doubt a very thoughtful and approachable professor, so it is unsurprising you might be trusted with this difficult information and burden (by students or other teachers/faculty). We maybe get slightly more training in secondary schools for this, but it still is far from a playbook. I've done some other reading about it due to the nature of students revealing their feelings in 'creative' writing frequently enough, and again it does not really prepare me for what to do or what is right. I try to keep work at work, but these feelings naturally bring one's empathy and worry well beyond the classroom. I guess I try to think what little bit we can do to be open and be there, to share where to get more help, and to be a positive influence and role model is what I try to keep at the front. That and diving right into texts that deal with the topic (as mentioned) but this is not something one would do in biochemistry (I think). Avoidance solves nothing. Well, maybe a reading club would do them well, or even a reading list. Hoping for them and for you. 💜
Thanks Kate. All excellent words and thoughts. The strange this is, we have an entire academic team dedicated to this, who students get referred to, but then they ended up simply sending students to me for final resolution of the issues. Frustrating and not ideal, in my opinion.
That is…highly disappointing. It sounds like they don’t know what to do either, but it’s not a fair position to put you in.
I loved how you balance realism with generosity. You really show why classrooms still matter!
I like the way you put that, Jon! Thanks!
Beautiful, moving reflections, Kate. Hope this becomes a recurring feature! Made me want to abandon copywriting and return to teaching (or move to Fukuoka to take your classes).
Wishing you and your family safe travels and a peaceful holiday states-side. 💙
We would love to have you here, Michael! Thanks for the kind words.
My brother will travel from your Minneapolis to Boston to meet us there. Hope you have a wonderful holiday! 💙💙
I’d love to be in the class for the P&P reading.
You would be very welcome to join!
Online adult student 😅.
Lucky kids, lucky teacher!
I am!
"Literature matters. We’re not studying it so we can identify a metaphor; we want to use the metaphor to understand something about truth, beauty."
Well said!
Thanks for reading, Melanie!
Really enjoyed these insights into your teaching, which seems to have such an open, respectful energy. This part -- which I see Nathan also flagged -- is sobering, and I think you're absolutely right. "But also — they’re thinking about it, so let them talk about it. If we just push it aside in silence and fear, AI will give them the answers they think they want to hear."