InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Chill homie"

The Master (drummingsound) wrote in valarnet,
@ 2015-01-31 04:33:00

Entry tags:

clara oswald, harold saxon (the master), martha jones, rory williams, rose tyler, tenth doctor

Hello, California! My name is Harold Saxon, and I’m rather new to the area. A co-worker of mine told me about this network, and it seemed like a grand idea to post a little greeting to you all.

I’ve just moved in to a wonderfully cramped little flat in Anaheim, although I’m working out at CalTech.

If any of you happen to be making the trek out there too as students, you’ll probably run into me at some point or another. I’m teaching European History I, and will be offering my services as advisor to anyone in the humanities programs.

If you haven’t signed up yet and are thinking about it, just be warned that I require a great deal of reading, the majority of it being primary sources. Nothing quite like learning about history in the most immersive way possible, don’t you think?

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	drummingsound 2015-01-31 08:55 pm UTC (link)
	I've been met with some critique for that line of thinking, before. The last place I taught thought that primary sources were fine "in moderation". In moderation, can you imagine? Thus far CalTech seems far more sensible. Always nice to come across someone with good taste in their format for studying history. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	alwaysbeenthere 2015-01-31 09:01 pm UTC (link)
	Everyone's a critic so they say. Glad to know CalTech is being sensible on the matter. I'm still figuring my way with the school I just started at, though secondary school is a bit more rigid than university. What can I say, I enjoy context. Probably comes from teaching literature or my influences while in school. Or I'm just weird. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

drummingsound
2015-01-31 09:08 pm UTC (link)

Granted, I've been here less than a week. The lady who filled my position before quit suddenly, so they were desperate for someone to take over. They may be giving me more leeway than they might have otherwise. Still, I'm not complaining.

I'm glad that you don't sound like one of those literature professors that think history should be ignored. I quite like the classics myself, and while I understand from an academic view that there is something to be gained from isolating the text itself and picking it apart that way, I think there's much more to be lost from ignoring historical context.

I'm a grown man that enjoys kids' telly, so even if you are weird, I'm not one to judge.

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alwaysbeenthere
2015-01-31 09:12 pm UTC (link)

So less time than me! I've been here about a month, still getting myself situated but classes started again on the 4th so there wasn't much time for that.

Definitely not! There are themes that resonate throughout time, but we should still know what was happening and what could have influenced the stories we read. I'd rather give my students a broader scope to understand both the reading and the world around them if I'm able to.

Well that's always good to know.

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drummingsound
2015-01-31 09:49 pm UTC (link)

You're native, then, compared to me! I've barely had time to get situated, since classes were already going and I was the one playing catchup with the students. Thus my tiny flat. I can afford better, but I didn't have the time to look.

Exactly! Which is why history and literature go so well together. Through literature we can appreciate the mindsets of the great historical thinkers, and history gives readers that necessary broader scope. Where do you teach?

Not that I think there's anything wrong with liking Moomins or the like, if you do. Not weird at all.

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	alwaysbeenthere 2015-01-31 09:55 pm UTC (link)
	Comparatively! I've only just finished unpacking, and have yet to forsake the letter u or switch s with z and all that. They really do. I never have understood why some feel the need to keep them separate. Creekside High School. Nothing wrong at all with that. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

drummingsound
2015-01-31 10:30 pm UTC (link)

I'd nearly forgotten about that. Should be delightfully confusing when it comes time to grade papers and I go grammar nazi with the wrong sort of grammar.

Those people are fools, really. I wasn't sure if you were implying you'd gone from university to secondary school or vice versa, earlier. Those students are lucky to have you. Most secondary school teachers are idiots.

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	alwaysbeenthere 2015-01-31 11:01 pm UTC (link)
	I've gotten "Ms.Oswald I think you spelled that wrong" a few times already. They are. And no, but I have two cousins who teach at university so I can compare the differences. But thank you. I do try. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

drummingsound
2015-01-31 11:06 pm UTC (link)

While I do prefer our way of spelling, it does say something good about your students that they've actually noticed. I'm slightly impressed.

I haven't taught at a secondary school since I did a week as a substitute a good ten or so years ago, but even so, I can attest to the differences. They're not very similar at all, are they? Secondary school teachers are just... generally geared toward teaching children rather than the young adults they actually are teaching.

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	alwaysbeenthere 2015-01-31 11:18 pm UTC (link)
	I imagine it has something to do with teaching the equivalency of A-levels here. Keeps me on my toes, and they at least grasp the reasoning so there is that. They aren't. There also seems to be more emphasis on test scores. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

drummingsound
2015-01-31 11:25 pm UTC (link)

The students at university seem about the same as the ones back in England, but I obviously can't judge the secondary school students here, so I'll take your word on that. Maybe America has a decent system.

I've noticed that here, as well. My students were shocked when I mentioned that in class exams count for considerably less than papers and class participation.

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	alwaysbeenthere 2015-02-01 12:14 am UTC (link)
	Couldn't say. Though I don't have much say with the kids who take regular English at the moment. We'll see what happens with the next school year though. They put the pressure on the teachers in the secondary schools as well to only focus on the tests. Something about how funding is determined on how the schools perform overall in their standardised tests. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	drummingsound 2015-02-01 06:38 pm UTC (link)
	Well, the American education system being obsessed with standardized tests notwithstanding, judging purely from this conversation, I'm confident that if any of your students wind up in my class down the line, they'll be well prepared! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	alwaysbeenthere 2015-02-01 07:12 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you, I should hope they are prepared for wherever they may end up. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	iwasplastic 2015-01-31 11:03 pm UTC (link)
	Good for you. Amy and I are still in the midst of unpacking. I hadn't realized how much either of us had until now. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	alwaysbeenthere 2015-01-31 11:20 pm UTC (link)
	It did take over a month if it makes you feel any better? Plus I'm just one person while you are a couple. But that does tend to be the way of it, you don't realise how much you have until you have to pack and then unpack it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	iwasplastic 2015-01-31 11:32 pm UTC (link)
	I feel like this would have been easier if we had been living together before we moved, but since we weren't, it seems like we just packed up everything we owned and now we have to weed through it all. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	alwaysbeenthere 2015-02-01 12:11 am UTC (link)
	Probably has something to do with it. Not sure how much help I can be on that front, but all you two need to do is ask. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	iwasplastic 2015-02-01 12:16 am UTC (link)
	We might never see you again if you come over to help us. You'll either get eaten alive by all of our shite or run for the hills when you see the boxes. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	alwaysbeenthere 2015-02-01 06:32 pm UTC (link)
	...Your boxes are piled above my reach aren't they. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	iwasplastic 2015-02-01 06:35 pm UTC (link)
	Maybe a few of them. It's not our fault that we're taller. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	alwaysbeenthere 2015-02-01 07:05 pm UTC (link)
	I'll still pout about it at you! Giants, the lot of you. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	iwasplastic 2015-02-01 07:09 pm UTC (link)
	Don't worry, we'll take down the really tall ones so you won't need a step ladder. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	alwaysbeenthere 2015-02-01 07:11 pm UTC (link)
	You're so kind :P (Reply to this) (Parent)

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