Today I found myself in class bringing up the class that WAS; the successes that WERE; the passion and effort put in by those who have passed into the great college beyond. I meant it in good spirit. I was not trying to speak poorly of those in front of me – but the students last year did set a new high bar for the department and the class. They brought so much fire and passion to their varied talents. Entire classes were created and re-ordered just to accommodate their enthusiasm. But that was then. . .
After I brought the now “elders” up, I felt a bit uneasy. I was comparing them at the end of the year to the current class facing day two of their senior year. What good was it going to do to bring up the past in this context? Certainly it wasn’t going to scare or push them into good work. It was time to let the comparisons pass away. It was time to introduce myself to the new and the current and get to know their names (not an easy task – never an easy task for me) and get to work.
If the frame that was built for last year’s students doesn’t work this year – then perhaps the problem is the frame and not the students. After all the student is more important then the frame that they work in.
Okay it’s day two. Syllabus is out. Grade book has been built. I look at the calendar and find that it is today and not yesterday. Readjust. Move.