Class Notes

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 7:09 pm by Sam Rocha

Class Notes 2015-02-04T19:09:18-06:00 Sam Rocha

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Foundations of Educational Thought” — second meeting

The most important thing that happened in class yesterday did not occur in the time/space of the class. About two hours before class I was busy sorting through a reimbursement snafu where I completely lost my composure. I was seething mad. In retrospect I am pretty happy that I didn’t do anything REALLY stupid given how internally angry, how royally pissed off, I was.

Prior to that I prepped a pretty good class sketch. I even made a hand-out. I like to think of all my classes as jazz structures: I put in a unison line or two, a few thematic sections with minimal chord changes, and leave room for improvisations from myself and the class. This class, on paper, had it all. Plus: this was the class where my Primer was the featured specimen. A class full of hope and promise.

I ask my students to be present in class. By “present” I don’t just mean to show up; I want them to fully present, to dwell in the class in every possible way. Sadly, the incident before class clouded my availability in class last night. My anger prevented me from being wholly present, from truly dwelling with them. I tried to follow the chart I drew up, despite my internal condition, and I even told them about it — but I stumbled over the changes, missed several beats, and left feeling like I just got bye. It was one of those nights when you just feel lucky to get out without being booed off the stage, or worse.

It was a tough night on the classroom bandstand. There were some moments, I think. I hope? One student asked me about my abuelito Rocha—to whom my Primer is dedicated—and I almost lost it emotionally. It was then that I truly realized that I was still in shambles from the earlier event.

Afterwards I returned to my lovely great-aunt’s (by marriage) house where I am staying till our apartment is ready to move in. I ate a warm, filling dinner, realizing that I hadn’t eaten since 10:30 am, and went straight to bed, well before 9 pm.

The reason for all the detail of things unrelated to the literal class time is because they show what really happened during this class. This morning I write this reflection while being serenaded and prayed over by John Coltrane’s classic trinitarian jazz-suite: A Love Supreme. It is healing salve to me and a reminder of what being present sounds and feels like.

My fault yesterday was twofold: being too presumptuous about the class to begin with, too pleased with my preparatory compositions; and allowing my anger to lead me to despair: a dark, cynical, selfish despair. As Chesterton teaches, the two sins against hope are presumption and despair. Mea culpa.

Next week’s class is canceled because it falls on Labor Day; this will allow time to grade the papers I collected from them (describing the word ‘word’) and prepare to begin anew — with Plato’s Meno. I am full of hope for it, for redemption.

regular

Previous Post

August 27, 2012

Happy Feast of St. Monica!

Next Post

August 30, 2012 Class Notes

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category aesthetics audio class notes conversation Education En Español Interviews jazz jazzhop link Liturgy Music Nonsense pastoral philosophy phenomenology Philosophy philosophy of education photo Poetry Political Theology quote Race regular Schooling Uncategorized video Weekly Apocalypse

Select a Month June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the first woman mentioned in the Bible after Eve?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Sarah Rebekah Rachel Leah