I teach a middle school creative writing class, and you have inspired me to start with a bit of opinion writing. I have never considered it before, but it suddenly makes sense. Thank you, and Happy New Year!
Our hope for the future lies in the thoughts and actions of the Gen Zers. Thank you for encouraging them to be open with their opinions. Their lives depend on it.
You sound like the best kind of teacher - one who creates space for students to show up as themselves, which in turn helps them to soak in new ideas and ways of relating to the world!
I would be interested in learning more about the course mentioned that you completed this semester. Is it available online?
I would also be interested in the textbook(s) you may have used for the class. The title of your course is something I know I would be interested in taking to improve my compositions.
Thank you for your time - Ivan White~Las Cruces, New Mexico
I would have to see that delightful pooch in person to say for certainty, but if my eyes don't deceive me via photo magic, adorable Figgy, is a Mountain Cur, or subspecies of the breed, of which there are a multitude. The breed did indeed originate in Appalachia though. How do I know ? I was born in Appalachia; variations were once very common among my people. They gained, lost, and regain again a measure of panache. They make awesome companions if one has the space for them to expend their tremendous energy as a rule. They are highly *intelligent and adaptable. Awesome hunters; one variation is the Tennessee Brindle or Cur who are amazing at tracking / hunting all manner of prey and guiding the owner / hunter / handler to the treed prey by baying and vocalizations. The intelligence asterisk is to denote a difference between intelligence and trainability; Very high intelligence dogs are typically harder to train, even though that sounds like a contradiction, it is not and a broad subject known among canine professionals. I personally adore Mountain Curs.
Having been a huge fan of yours for so long (since your P.D. start), I am aware that you spent time teaching at KSU, your alma mater - coincidentally our eldest daughter's too. I wonder why you don't teach there now, and why it would seem you're enjoying Dennison, better. Thanks !
I loved my seven years of teaching at Kent State, and I will always be a proud journalism alum of that school. Denison invited me, and I was ready for a change. It’s been a wonderful move for me. Thank you for asking.
'That' is one heckuva' hike from your domicile ! I would know. My eldest daughter, your co-alum, did her graduate school a few miles away at Ohio Dominican. I'll be interested to learn, as you spend more time there, whether you enjoy it more than KSU, and if you inquire into yourself, the 'why' you do or do not. That's strictly an academic question, not personal.... hmm, perhaps it's both; that's hard to plumb.
Beautiful. It’s crazy these were taught from a young age what to do in the event that someone with a gun tries to get in their classroom and shoot them. They’ve lived through a pandemic and increasing natural disasters. Mine’s 22 and boy does her generation have some big opinions. Sounds like an awesome class!
Someone who likes working with young people! Let's go Connie!
If this is your "day job" then you are greatly contributing to tomorrows bright minds, one way or the other.
As someone who worked with a variety of young people, I have been trying to explain to many decisions makers for so long how we provide so little support to young people in their transition into adulthood.
I found that this is particularly true when it comes to their spiritual and mental health - all the while we are surprised that youth suicide is on the rise (e.g. NZ leads the way in those numbers in the OECD :( ). How can they "figure out" themselves if we provide so little to them in that crucial time of change from a secluded high school situation to a more open university or work world?
Good on you for helping them directly with useful advice and teachings to be able to understand what "opinion" is, as well as how to voice it!
Now, how can I sign-up for your opinion writing classes?
Thank you for this! :) I also teach college students and I love how we learn from one another. One of the goals of our writing, we've decided, it to make ourselves comprehensible to one another, across generations. That means we all have to get at least a little in each other's heads. And we all have to share our blind spots and different conceptions. It truly is the best thing there is.
Just thank you for you so much! I look forward to each and every one of your articles. Such beauty and richness of life so rare to read in these times.
Denison is so fortunate to have you, and, since it is one of the Posse Foundation partner universities, you are equally fortunate if you have any Posse Scholars in your class. They are remarkable people across the board.
I teach a middle school creative writing class, and you have inspired me to start with a bit of opinion writing. I have never considered it before, but it suddenly makes sense. Thank you, and Happy New Year!
Our hope for the future lies in the thoughts and actions of the Gen Zers. Thank you for encouraging them to be open with their opinions. Their lives depend on it.
You sound like the best kind of teacher - one who creates space for students to show up as themselves, which in turn helps them to soak in new ideas and ways of relating to the world!
Thanks so much for this. I also teach younger people, me from my crusty old age. Everything you say is so very true.
Wow, wow. There is so much in this post for me to digest. I'm not Gen Z but I think I need to take your writing course!
I would be interested in learning more about the course mentioned that you completed this semester. Is it available online?
I would also be interested in the textbook(s) you may have used for the class. The title of your course is something I know I would be interested in taking to improve my compositions.
Thank you for your time - Ivan White~Las Cruces, New Mexico
Yes. Thank you!
I would have to see that delightful pooch in person to say for certainty, but if my eyes don't deceive me via photo magic, adorable Figgy, is a Mountain Cur, or subspecies of the breed, of which there are a multitude. The breed did indeed originate in Appalachia though. How do I know ? I was born in Appalachia; variations were once very common among my people. They gained, lost, and regain again a measure of panache. They make awesome companions if one has the space for them to expend their tremendous energy as a rule. They are highly *intelligent and adaptable. Awesome hunters; one variation is the Tennessee Brindle or Cur who are amazing at tracking / hunting all manner of prey and guiding the owner / hunter / handler to the treed prey by baying and vocalizations. The intelligence asterisk is to denote a difference between intelligence and trainability; Very high intelligence dogs are typically harder to train, even though that sounds like a contradiction, it is not and a broad subject known among canine professionals. I personally adore Mountain Curs.
Very high intelligence dogs harder to train. Yep, my daughter, tho not a dog.
Thank you, Connie. Please keep it up.
Having been a huge fan of yours for so long (since your P.D. start), I am aware that you spent time teaching at KSU, your alma mater - coincidentally our eldest daughter's too. I wonder why you don't teach there now, and why it would seem you're enjoying Dennison, better. Thanks !
I loved my seven years of teaching at Kent State, and I will always be a proud journalism alum of that school. Denison invited me, and I was ready for a change. It’s been a wonderful move for me. Thank you for asking.
'That' is one heckuva' hike from your domicile ! I would know. My eldest daughter, your co-alum, did her graduate school a few miles away at Ohio Dominican. I'll be interested to learn, as you spend more time there, whether you enjoy it more than KSU, and if you inquire into yourself, the 'why' you do or do not. That's strictly an academic question, not personal.... hmm, perhaps it's both; that's hard to plumb.
Beautiful. It’s crazy these were taught from a young age what to do in the event that someone with a gun tries to get in their classroom and shoot them. They’ve lived through a pandemic and increasing natural disasters. Mine’s 22 and boy does her generation have some big opinions. Sounds like an awesome class!
Someone who likes working with young people! Let's go Connie!
If this is your "day job" then you are greatly contributing to tomorrows bright minds, one way or the other.
As someone who worked with a variety of young people, I have been trying to explain to many decisions makers for so long how we provide so little support to young people in their transition into adulthood.
I found that this is particularly true when it comes to their spiritual and mental health - all the while we are surprised that youth suicide is on the rise (e.g. NZ leads the way in those numbers in the OECD :( ). How can they "figure out" themselves if we provide so little to them in that crucial time of change from a secluded high school situation to a more open university or work world?
Good on you for helping them directly with useful advice and teachings to be able to understand what "opinion" is, as well as how to voice it!
Now, how can I sign-up for your opinion writing classes?
Thank you for this! :) I also teach college students and I love how we learn from one another. One of the goals of our writing, we've decided, it to make ourselves comprehensible to one another, across generations. That means we all have to get at least a little in each other's heads. And we all have to share our blind spots and different conceptions. It truly is the best thing there is.
Just thank you for you so much! I look forward to each and every one of your articles. Such beauty and richness of life so rare to read in these times.
Denison is so fortunate to have you, and, since it is one of the Posse Foundation partner universities, you are equally fortunate if you have any Posse Scholars in your class. They are remarkable people across the board.
Love you, Connie. Wish you'd been my writing professor but I don't think you'd been born yet!