Dan Saultman on wed 4 mar 98
Dear Group,
I was recently told that my services were no longer required as a
community college ceramics teacher. The Dept. Head said that he had been
instructed NOT to tell me why because it was illegal. ? I have though,
heard runors that I was too strict about attendance. I discussed this
with my Dept head and he said that the instructor has the right to
establish attendance policies. My policies were merely pulled from my
predecessor's sylibus, which I used as a guide for mine. A ceramics
professor at a four year college nearby said that my community college
was noted for having clay teachers that were merely baby sitters and
that he had heard that I had been the best teacher they had had in a
long time. I was taken to lunch by my Dept. boss and told, "off the
record" that it was a political decision...not to take it personally.
But I felt somewhat injured.
When one of the adult students who has been taking non-credit classes
for years heard about it he asked why? "you are the only one teaching
how to throw...it's obvious when you compare your students work to the
other class."
Well it's done now. I finish up in another week and mark it all up as
another experience. But I thought I'd share it with you since there has
been a lot of talk about teaching methods and quality of teaching. It
was indeed a learning experience. I guess I was just too passionate
about sharing my love of clay arts and it's techniques. I did my best
and will live with the criticism that I tried to teach too much and baby
sat too little.
Dan Saultman
--
For a Glimpse of Cartoons, Pottery and Computer Graphics
as well as some insight into who Dan Saultman is,
please visit my web page at:
http://www.concentric.net/~clay-art/Index.shtml
Sandra Dwiggins on thu 5 mar 98
Dan--
When I was teaching film at a fairly prestigious small 4-year libarts
college, one of the "old beloved professors" who had a great reputation
as a teacher approached me one day for a talk about one of his students
who was taking my class. She was failing. In confidence he said. He
then asked me if I could change her grades...she, he said, was a good
student, she had always done well in HIS courses (which by implication
were far more weighty than mine--film, of course, can be dismissed as
piffle). She, he said, had always learned well, and tried hard. My
response was--but she can't think--And that's what I ask my students to
do. It slowly dawned on me from then on, that the business of colleges
is to stay in business...i.e. this young woman will graduate and she and
her family would make considerable contributions to the school and think
well of it in the future, if we do our best to ensure that she graduates
with a decent record---and hang the thinking.....and in your case, the
attendance...
I am sorry that you lost your job because you were devoted to your craft
and your teaching. Here's a case where tenure would have helped. If
you are on a course at a time contract, or an adjunct professor, you
have no recourse. However, if you are a full-time hire, and not on a
one-year contract, you may have some grounds for legal action.
Sandy, who loves learning but has little patience with the institutional part
of higher education...
Mmpottery on fri 6 mar 98
I have to come to the defense of the Junior College. They are not all messed
up. I have taught at 2 here in Colorado and both have been very supportive of
everything I tried to bring to my students. Very open to experimentation and
different techniques including paying for the gas that fires my salt kiln so
the students can partake. Just had to comment. Those that are weird are not
worth teaching at and they will continue to have a boring clay department.
Their lose........
Stephen Mills on fri 6 mar 98
Dan,
You can leave with your head held high. Those who engineered your
dismissal are the biggest fools because inevitably their stupidity
will become common knowledge amongst the student population, and that
will serve them right.
It is no sin to be passionate about sharing.
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , Dan Saultman writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Dear Group,
>
>I was recently told that my services were no longer required as a
>community college ceramics teacher. The Dept. Head said that he had been
>instructed NOT to tell me why because it was illegal. ? I have though,
>heard runors that I was too strict about attendance. I discussed this
>with my Dept head and he said that the instructor has the right to
>establish attendance policies. My policies were merely pulled from my
>predecessor's sylibus, which I used as a guide for mine. A ceramics
>professor at a four year college nearby said that my community college
>was noted for having clay teachers that were merely baby sitters and
>that he had heard that I had been the best teacher they had had in a
>long time. I was taken to lunch by my Dept. boss and told, "off the
>record" that it was a political decision...not to take it personally.
>But I felt somewhat injured.
>When one of the adult students who has been taking non-credit classes
>for years heard about it he asked why? "you are the only one teaching
>how to throw...it's obvious when you compare your students work to the
>other class."
>Well it's done now. I finish up in another week and mark it all up as
>another experience. But I thought I'd share it with you since there has
>been a lot of talk about teaching methods and quality of teaching. It
>was indeed a learning experience. I guess I was just too passionate
>about sharing my love of clay arts and it's techniques. I did my best
>and will live with the criticism that I tried to teach too much and baby
>sat too little.
>Dan Saultman
>--
>For a Glimpse of Cartoons, Pottery and Computer Graphics
>as well as some insight into who Dan Saultman is,
>please visit my web page at:
>http://www.concentric.net/~clay-art/Index.shtml
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
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