Dan Saultman on thu 5 mar 98
Dear Group,
You have no idea the variety of responses I have received upon
disclosure of my firing and the nature of it. I felt that it would open
a dialog of expression about the question of quality ceramics
instruction versus the political shenanigans that can take place in a
college...particularly a community college. Some of the comments were
very enlightening. For example, one response said that community
colleges were nothing more than "high schools with ashtrays" and that
the idealism of the instructors were being constantly pared down to
conform to a milque-toast manifesto, "Don't be so structured that we
lose students, we need those classrooms filled!"
Some time back Vince Pitelka mentioned that on the way to a tenure track
position you needed to build your teaching resume but cautioned about
community colleges. I read his comment quizically and wonederd about it.
Now I see it in a different light.
There is nothing so wonderfull as a new, naive, idealistic teacher who
has such great hopes for his/her classes. There is nothing sadder than
learning that thier passion and enthusiasm has been snuffed and dampened
by policy that has nothing to do with quality teaching.
Thank you all so much for your out-pouring of compassion and insight. I
will still be here and still be potting and proud to have you all as my
cyber ClayArt friends.
Deepest Regards,
Dan Saultman
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The content of the original posting:
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.
--
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
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