Tonight something amazing happened. For the first time, in the midst of reading an assigned education text, I found something to be so insightful that I had to stop, and record it. More than that, I had to post it on here. This is monumental my friends. I have barely even enjoyed 90% of the material for my education classes, let alone wanting to remember and reflect on it. The author of the article is a prof from Berkeley - go figure.
In reference to a university proffessor:
"Who needs 20 year olds from the suburbs when you are hanging out constantly with the likes of Marx and Hegel, Durkheim, Weber and Troelstch? This is "community" of the highest sort - the capacity for connectedness that allows one to converse with the dead, to speak and listen in an invisble network of relationships that enlarges one's world and ones life" - Parker Palmer
Now, I am not going to claim to have any idea who those men are (besides Marx of course) but to me that sentence could be replaced with "Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Donne, Tennyson" and obviously the list goes on and on. At this point, I will tell my greatest wish. That one day I might be able to enter into that conversation with my students and create ideas that will forever live and grow in their hearts. Idealism? Probably.
But I can dream....
In reference to a university proffessor:
"Who needs 20 year olds from the suburbs when you are hanging out constantly with the likes of Marx and Hegel, Durkheim, Weber and Troelstch? This is "community" of the highest sort - the capacity for connectedness that allows one to converse with the dead, to speak and listen in an invisble network of relationships that enlarges one's world and ones life" - Parker Palmer
Now, I am not going to claim to have any idea who those men are (besides Marx of course) but to me that sentence could be replaced with "Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Donne, Tennyson" and obviously the list goes on and on. At this point, I will tell my greatest wish. That one day I might be able to enter into that conversation with my students and create ideas that will forever live and grow in their hearts. Idealism? Probably.
But I can dream....
7 comments:
Drewlo
You're the next Captain (oh my Captain).
Finally, something that made me proud to be a part of academia.
For me, this exceptional quote would be instead replaced with the names Hesse, Wilde, Salinger, Buber, and Orwell.
I would sit and talk for hours with these guys about philosophy, but with a focus on the human condition (with Salinger to add a little humor of course.)
Drewlo, you're a star.
Love Kristina
Ps. Most of the men mentioned are Sociologists.
Drewlo, now that is what I am talking about! The person above is right about the list being famous sociologists. It sounds like my SOCI theory class!
On top of this, be sure to add a good bit of Focault, Durkheim, Simmel DuBois and Comte. With that you will have the backbone of the discipline!
BTW - For some interest into the suburban life that you're in from a classic theorist, I would take a look at Weber's "Protistent Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" or Simmel's "The Metropolis and Mental Life".
All amazing and insightful reading, if you can get past the often obtuse and translated writing!
once again - i know its not cool to post on your own blog. but i have to say:
thanks guys. your posts made my night. although i feel lame even for SUGGESTING this...
i think we all just contributed to the "conversation" through the blog. which is both lame and amazing all at the same time.
Sharelley!
Parker Palmer...I didn't have to read him until PDP -- you're getting ahead of yourself here. Was it an article or "The Courage to Teach"? Very insightful thoughts indeed.
Drewlo
Conversational blogging is the dialogue of our generation.
It's so worthwhile and NOT lame.
The constant exchange of ideas is what keeps me alive.
I'm glad we can both be a part of that.
with love,
K
Drewlo,
Lovely quote. You know my heart, so how about throwing these theatrical/lit. agents into the mix....think of the exchange achieved with Williams, Miller, and O'Neal. Let us not forget how Steinbeck, Hemingway, and O'Connor illuminate the human condition.
My current readings are:
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn....(an American classic, whose action unfolds in my great state of Missouri)
A Room with a View-Forrester
Much Love.
Steph B
ah palmer. good thoughts.
Post a Comment