Letter from the Professor to Class 03.13.20

You are invited to share your thoughts in “Comments” and to respond to each other’s comments as well. -ss

B”H

Mar 13, 2020

Dear Class,

First of all, I want to say how much I miss seeing each and every one of you in person. Nothing can replace gathering, seeing each other, talking, sharing in circle time. That said, there is great potential in this time as well. I want to share with you some “pros” that may well come out of our writing and communicating and working in this new Online environment:

1)Writing can be more intimate than talking. The page (paper, screen, whatever we are using as a surface) slows us down, and that’s a good thing. It allows us time to compose our thoughts. We don’t have to rush to fill an awkward silence like we do when talking to someone in person or on the phone. We say what we mean, and what we might otherwise not be able to say in person.

2)Listening isn’t always the easiest thing in the world, either. When you are reading, you have more time to think over the other person’s thoughts and “digest” them, get in touch with how you feel about them. You also have more time to consider your response.

3)A well-considered response is often a better response. Other people will thank you for your effort. You may even gain more language and vocabulary in the process – and retain your lessons longer.

4)”Shy people” make great writers. Those of us who feel uncomfortable to speak aloud in class are often the ones who speak the “loudest” on the page. Being “quiet”… having a self-analytical personality…well, that’s just a recipe for being a good writer. Maybe even a professional writer. : – )

I will stop there for now. You get the picture.

I also want to say that I am facing a lot of challenges, too. During this recess I have to figure out how to give you the same, high level of instruction you deserve. I am doing a lot of learning on how to adapt our course work to the online environment. What’s more, you need to feel safe in that environment, just as you do in class. I am getting up to speed, so that by March 19 I can: Tell you what’s expected of you; Tell you when I’m expecting it; Tell you the format/how you can submit it; Keep a sense of community/communication open for you with other students; Make it possible for you to reach me when you need help. Oh yes, I also want learning to be fun!

As you know, I can be a pretty unorthodox teacher, and you can well imagine that I have a lot of adapting to do here. (Can I still get chalk on my pants Online?) I hope you will bear with me while I do it. I think this will be a good ride, and that we are all going to learn, so let’s all keep our class community strong during this crisis and come through.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for being such a great class.

-Prof. Schmerler