B.F. Skinner Came to Dinner

I have been working my tuchis off on my homework for my graduate class. This week we had a major project due and so I slacked on my weekly reading assignments. Normally, I really throw myself into my readings because I want to squeeze everything I can out of school but this week I threw it together. Each week I have gotten a low “B” on my work and this week, when I expended no effort, I got an “A.” I am sure students around the world have had a similar experience but getting a B in my world is an F, although I have lived by the mantra that, “a “D” means never taking that class again.”

I am wondering if this class will make me a better teacher or not. I do know that it is not making me a better student. Not to be conceited, but I am one of those for whom school is effortless. I can pass without effort and if the class does not pique my interest or challenge me, I go on autopilot, get my “A” and go home. I wanted Graduate School to be different but I am afraid that I will slip into my old habits and get very little out of this.

This week’s topics included behaviorism (pros and cons) and I come out of that experience realizing that my discipline plan is heavily influenced by Alfie Kohn. My professor is elated because so far I have not been a fan of any of the theorists we have studied and less a fan of the philosophers we have been reading. I have decided that teaching is bogus and I should be a philosopher – because what does a philosopher do that I do not already do? Very little, the big difference is that they are paid to observe and report on humanity and I do it for the laughs that I coerce out of people. Essentially, Aristotle was a blogger without the Internet.

I am also very glad my parents were into Alfie Kohn’s ideas when I was being raised. Yes, the Major, and the Mrs. were that involved as parents to have an articulated plan for the care and feeding of me. My mother’s sister always says that my parents were too strict with me when I was growing up, that they did not nurture my self-esteem enough. She says this as her sex-offenders in training – fifteen years my junior – run naked through public areas, ask my friends if they have pubic hair, and shout their racist jokes in crowded New Haven restaurants.

For those of you behind on the math, that makes the oldest one twelve and New Haven is the Capital of American Liberalism, Open Mindedness, and Academia – not exactly appropriate. Had they been three and at a Klan meeting, this would have been acceptable.

I was doubly embarrassed by that incident because it happened in the town where Golf Widow and L’ Empress live and I would have hated to be seen with my family if they graced the scene. While they might dispute New Haven’s wonderful qualities, they also have never lived in Louisville, Kentucky, or Lincoln, Nebraska – so my love of the New Haven area is clearly one of respect and perspective. Comparable to other areas of the country, New Haven is Mecca.

I offered to get my mother a pocketknife for Christmas so that the next time her sister said something like that to her, she could out her sister’s tongue. Mom said that would only go to prove her sister’s point. I offered that she would never able to make that point again. My mother pointed out that: brandishing weapons, while the norm in Kentucky (where she lives), is still not lady-like and she declined. Say what you will about me, I keep my clothes on in public, shy away from personal questions and do not loose the “n” word in mixed or cloistered company.

That having been said, my homework for this week was done before noon (the new week starts Monday) and I had the afternoon off from both jobs and school. I used it to clean the apartment (you cannot even tell) and the hardest decision I have made all day was whether I wanted the Beef with Scallions or the Empress Chicken. I ordered the beef.

Comments

[mental]

Nice new layout fancypants.

[Pelosi]

"Essentially, Aristotle was a blogger without the Internet." I love it!