Comments on: and so (surprisingly positively) begins my last semester in grad school http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/ the pantsiest pants that ever pantsed in pants town Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:11:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Katie http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1720 Katie Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:25:20 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1720 Was anyone else expecting Posh to pull a cupcake out of her pocket? I could create a large list of items that are taught for a test but never used in every day life. For example-the poor 5th grade science teachers at my school fear that our students may not pass the TAKS test due to the fact that they cannot accurately identify the moon phases. Really Governor Good Hair? Is this something that you use on an everyday basis? Does it assist you in making "quality" decisions concerning the education system in our state? I agree with Seth-academics should be balanced with real world classes. Unfortunately, some people think that the "real world classes"-read vocational track-are only for those who will not go to college. Remember how we all had to take summer school so that we wouldn't have to take things like PE during the year in order to meet all the requirements for graduation? Ooh-I didn't realize how opinionated and vehement I would become while typing this post. I should stop before I set something on fire. One last comment-one of my best college courses was Greek and Roman Mythology. I took it as one of my Fine Art credits (along with music and theatre appreciation). The class kicked my butt; however I would take it over again in a heartbeat. Katie Was anyone else expecting Posh to pull a cupcake out of her pocket?

I could create a large list of items that are taught for a test but never used in every day life. For example-the poor 5th grade science teachers at my school fear that our students may not pass the TAKS test due to the fact that they cannot accurately identify the moon phases.

Really Governor Good Hair? Is this something that you use on an everyday basis? Does it assist you in making “quality” decisions concerning the education system in our state?

I agree with Seth-academics should be balanced with real world classes. Unfortunately, some people think that the “real world classes”-read vocational track-are only for those who will not go to college. Remember how we all had to take summer school so that we wouldn’t have to take things like PE during the year in order to meet all the requirements for graduation?

Ooh-I didn’t realize how opinionated and vehement I would become while typing this post. I should stop before I set something on fire.

One last comment-one of my best college courses was Greek and Roman Mythology. I took it as one of my Fine Art credits (along with music and theatre appreciation). The class kicked my butt; however I would take it over again in a heartbeat.

Katie

]]> By: Becky http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1729 Becky Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:05:12 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1729 Sorry, Seth, but now days most high school students can't even measure, much less do their taxes. Sorry, Seth, but now days most high school students can’t even measure, much less do their taxes.

]]> By: s/e http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1728 s/e Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:01:46 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1728 it also wins. it also wins.

]]> By: s/e http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1727 s/e Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:00:02 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1727 This post wings. Finishing up at the west coast farm university, I took an improvisation course via the drama department. Literally, it was in the top 3 courses of my academic education in terms of enjoyment, self-reflection and life skill development: a) how to deal with chaos b) how to say yes instead of no c) how to share control. This leads me to remember a conversation i had recently: what we should be teaching in US high schools? Having used about 22 years of my life in educating myself, I think we do some disservice in high school. Where is the focus on life skills? (what is a budget? what are taxes? cooking skills? how to change your oil?). I can think of only a few high school classes that really taught me anything (thank you American Studies). s/e This post wings.

Finishing up at the west coast farm university, I took an improvisation course via the drama department. Literally, it was in the top 3 courses of my academic education in terms of enjoyment, self-reflection and life skill development:
a) how to deal with chaos
b) how to say yes instead of no
c) how to share control.

This leads me to remember a conversation i had recently: what we should be teaching in US high schools?

Having used about 22 years of my life in educating myself, I think we do some disservice in high school. Where is the focus on life skills? (what is a budget? what are taxes? cooking skills? how to change your oil?). I can think of only a few high school classes that really taught me anything (thank you American Studies).

s/e

]]> By: Matt http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1726 Matt Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:43:07 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1726 I don't want to be in school right now at all, so I'm not. Done, but I am a bit jealous of getting to do some work at the Blanton. I am happy that exist in Austin. Okay! Bye1 I don’t want to be in school right now at all, so I’m not. Done, but I am a bit jealous of getting to do some work at the Blanton. I am happy that exist in Austin.

Okay!
Bye1

]]> By: Ellen http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1722 Ellen Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:30:14 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1722 That sounds like a great class. I'm excited for you & I hope you're able to link to your final project... 'cause I know it's going to be AWESOME. I'm really enjoying learning in law school (as an older person) - can't say I felt the same about college. I guess it's easier to see the relevance of my current classes to my potential future career, which motivates me to learn the stuff, but I think it also has a lot to do w/ developing emotional maturity, which I hadn't quite developed to a sufficient degree before the age of 27 or so... I was kind of on the slow train there... because I know there were tons of people (my college roommate, for example) who seemed to have it pretty together at 18... but I was not one of them. That sounds like a great class. I’m excited for you & I hope you’re able to link to your final project… ’cause I know it’s going to be AWESOME.

I’m really enjoying learning in law school (as an older person) – can’t say I felt the same about college. I guess it’s easier to see the relevance of my current classes to my potential future career, which motivates me to learn the stuff, but I think it also has a lot to do w/ developing emotional maturity, which I hadn’t quite developed to a sufficient degree before the age of 27 or so… I was kind of on the slow train there… because I know there were tons of people (my college roommate, for example) who seemed to have it pretty together at 18… but I was not one of them.

]]> By: Henri http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1719 Henri Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:00:44 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1719 What are these "other things" that university is like, John? I want to see you run with that metaphor until you've trampled all other blog comments ever. Ready, set, go! What are these “other things” that university is like, John? I want to see you run with that metaphor until you’ve trampled all other blog comments ever.

Ready, set, go!

]]> By: Erin http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1721 Erin Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:45:50 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1721 as the proud owner of my very own b.f.a. in art education, i can safely say that this class seems like something you'll not only enjoy, but definitely excel in! if it somehow gives you thoughts of working in arts education, let me know- i teach over 20 art classes a week at my school, any of which could be yours (seriously- you can have 'em. really.)! as the proud owner of my very own b.f.a. in art education, i can safely say that this class seems like something you’ll not only enjoy, but definitely excel in! if it somehow gives you thoughts of working in arts education, let me know- i teach over 20 art classes a week at my school, any of which could be yours (seriously- you can have ‘em. really.)!

]]> By: John http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1725 John Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:13:05 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1725 Never happens a lot, to a lot of people. I know grad students that will never get it at all. Really, university is like a lot of things, and you get what you can out of it. I am glad to hear the degree is ending with awesomeness though. You've been subjected to some awful, awful courses. Never happens a lot, to a lot of people. I know grad students that will never get it at all. Really, university is like a lot of things, and you get what you can out of it.

I am glad to hear the degree is ending with awesomeness though. You’ve been subjected to some awful, awful courses.

]]> By: Henri http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1724 Henri Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:02:27 +0000 http://poshdeluxe.com/2008/01/16/and-so-surprisingly-positively-begins-my-last-semester-in-grad-school/#comment-1724 That's totally the way things go at UT. As Caitlin can attest right now, the first years are a total waste of time. That's actually why I didn't feel like a failure at all when I stuck around for a fifth year, because that just meant I got to take a whopping 1 and a half years of classes that actually mattered and taught me something. The rest of that "education" was just a bunch of pre-requisites, but E325M, an essay writing course, was AMAZING, and the film thesis class finally made me realize how much I didn't want to be a filmmaker, which was a very important conclusion to come to. So basically, your UT experience sounds about right. And you should really enjoy this class and expect it to change your life in unexpected ways. It will *almost* make the YA class seem worthwhile. That’s totally the way things go at UT. As Caitlin can attest right now, the first years are a total waste of time. That’s actually why I didn’t feel like a failure at all when I stuck around for a fifth year, because that just meant I got to take a whopping 1 and a half years of classes that actually mattered and taught me something. The rest of that “education” was just a bunch of pre-requisites, but E325M, an essay writing course, was AMAZING, and the film thesis class finally made me realize how much I didn’t want to be a filmmaker, which was a very important conclusion to come to.

So basically, your UT experience sounds about right. And you should really enjoy this class and expect it to change your life in unexpected ways. It will *almost* make the YA class seem worthwhile.

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