| Frank
M. Bryan |
TEACHING
In teaching, CONTENT IS THE CORE NECESSITY. Come to class unprepared and your students will know it. Worse, do it several times and you will lose them. I take knowing your subject cold as a given. But content, while necessary, is not sufficient. That, after all, is why we are called teachers. To wit, my top ten observations on becoming a better teacher.
In response to a friend who had just been denied a very
prestigious public appointment in the governance of England by the
Crown and
was
lamenting the fact to him while worrying about his future, Sir Thomas
Moore made the following
suggestion:
Sir Thomas Moore:
Why not be
a teacher? You'd be a fine teacher; perhaps a great one.
Richard Rich: But if I was, who would know it?
Sir Thomas Moore: You; your pupils; your friends; God. Not a bad public, that.
Richard Rich: But if I was, who would know it?
Sir Thomas Moore: You; your pupils; your friends; God. Not a bad public, that.
My "Philosophy of Teaching"
(Reprinted from The UVM Record, October 8, 1999)
(Reprinted from The UVM Record, October 8, 1999)
In teaching, CONTENT IS THE CORE NECESSITY. Come to class unprepared and your students will know it. Worse, do it several times and you will lose them. I take knowing your subject cold as a given. But content, while necessary, is not sufficient. That, after all, is why we are called teachers. To wit, my top ten observations on becoming a better teacher.
- Moses could come down to lecture on the Old Testament and students would fall asleep if he didn’t apply energy and style to his work.
- Teaching done well takes effort. Sweat if you have to, and it’s OK to let them see you do it.
- Everyone has a style. Find yours and work at developing it.
- Don’t be pretentious, but never be palsie-walsie either. Act your age and your status. If you need friends get them somewhere else.
- Never be cynical about what it is you are teaching. If you don’t believe in it, why should they?
- Just because you are not a friend doesn’t mean you can’t be nice.
- If you miss a class—for any reason—make it up.
- Don’t be a jerk about exams.
- This doesn’t mean you can’t be demanding.
- Never forget that teaching beats the hell out of working for a living!
Current Courses
Spring 2013
Fall 2012
Spring 2012
Other Courses Taught
Spring 2013
- POLS 21 The American Political System
- POLS 123 The
Vermont Political System
Fall 2012
Spring 2012
Other Courses Taught
- Political Science Department
- Masters of Public Administration Program