The Last Class
Tonight was my last class. For over thirty years, I have taught a variety of classes in a variety of classrooms. These classes have ranged from elementary through college. I have even taught working adults in the workplace. Now tonight was my last class. The program where I have been teaching is ending.
As I look over the empty room at the departing students, I am filled with sadness and bittersweet memories. I have loved my profession and will deeply miss it. I think back on my students and remember the sharing of knowledge and wisdom between us. I have been truly blessed with teaching them. For most of them have taught me as well. Lori, Marisa, Linda, Mark, Elaine, and Karl (thank your Karl for teaching me a valuable lesson during a difficult time in my life). I shall miss you all.
I have have learned much from them. For teaching is a two-way street. We instructors, professors, facilitators, and teachers are learners as well as the students.
I remember specific experiences and the memories flood my mind. The time I was teaching Beowulf to a college class. Each team had an assignment to present a “press conference” to the class by role playing a character from Beowulf. They could come in costume if they wanted. One group announced in rap that they, representing Grendel’s Mother, were filing a paternity suit against Beowulf. How we all laughed and the laughter was so loud and long I had to give a short break.
There was the time I assigned a class project to a ninth grade class to develop a board game similar to Monopoly. However, it had to be designed for an audience in the Soviet Union. Board squares read things like, “Go to Siberia; do not pass go; do not collect 200 ruples.”
There was the 1930s radio program "broadcast" by my class over the school's PA system complete with commercials and news. How everyone laughed at the "Who's on First" skit.
There were happy times, hard times and sad times but through it all there were rare but special moments when the students and I really connected. It was as if we were one. Ideas flowed back and forth and it seemed for a few moments like the flood-gates of Heaven opened. These special moments will always be enshrined in my memories.
Plato wrote about the search for truth; the Sophists, whom Plato hated, wrote about the search for the good that is found in all of us. It seems to me that learning is the search for both. The good and truth. They are not exclusive.
Teaching is different now. It seems as it has become more and more like a business. We now have a Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education who wants to destroy public schools by promoting for-profit charter schools. As if the profit motive increases quality.
But these times shall pass. I have to believe that someday quality and excellence shall return to education.
As I turned to leave I remembered what I had written on one of my web sites: I teach to remove ignorance, both in my self and in others.
Teaching is different now, not necessarily better, or more fulfilling, but certainly much different than my first year in the classroom
Thought provoking, well written article
Never Stop Writing!
m
Like you, I really enjoyed the exchanges that I had with the students for those 10 years or so that I taught. That's why I had graduate assistants when I moved into administrative roles.
I really enjoy that last line because that's exactly the way that I felt. The two-way street between students and I was probably the greatest reward for teaching.
And congratulations on retiring. I hope this will give you more time to write because I really enjoy your writing ability.
Ron