So far...

Looking back over this semester’s Paideia insofar as the shared readings and student-led discussions are concerned, I have to say that I enjoyed doing it this way, just because I felt like we discussed some good and interesting topics – especially in regards to science, way to go, dudes!, and even more especially Steven’s topic. Really, big applause on that reading and that presentation, man, there was something top-notch there and it left me thinking more about the scientific perspective and gave me something teeth-sink-in-able to discuss with people outside of our group of all varying majors.

My only real complaint of how things went down is that the readings for some weeks – and admittedly, even I didn’t give the full week ahead of time buffer – did not give the rest of the group any time to read the material and prepare some sort of decent means of contributing to the discussion. I feel like Paideia is something we all enjoy – otherwise, why stick around, right? – and I know I certainly do, but I also know that it’s my responsibility as your fellow student to come as prepared as possible because the more I know (or think I know :p) then the more I can contribute – and even if you don’t agree with me, at least that way you’ve got something to dispute. Basically, when we’re all able to come prepared and discuss then we’ll all have a better chance of really learning something new and worthwhile from each other. I figured, after all – and may very well be mistaken on this – but I was under the impression that, these presentations weren’t so much a give-us-what-you-know/teach-us moment, this wasn’t story-time, but it was sort of like presenting the group with a hypothesis or faux-thesis statement bolstered by a (scholarly?) source of some kind that the group might all read and then consider/dispute/build upon. – something we can’t well do if we haven’t had ample time to read and consider the work being presented upon.

And really, what’s the fun and point of Paideia if we don’t get something we can really disagree on? – Props to Rachel as well for her topic in that way about vegetarianism. I’m not suggesting that all of our topics should be controversial or radical or argumentative or overly provocative etc etc, because frankly, I don’t think we have a problem with that in our group :p what with the craziness over the Student Forum, sports & DNA, messed up vegans, etc. We do a good job, I think, of embracing weird perspectives.

I have to apologize here if I’ve been less prepared or more on-edge this semester in our group meetings; it’s no excuse, but it’s been a rough semester this time around. I think, for this reason as well, the way we’ve worked it out with these individual readings and presentations has helped me stay on track a bit more with what we’re doing rather than having to hunt through the Newsweek’s as well as read up on some other source as well as, as well as, etc (not that Paideia’s ever been the problem-child class :p) but this arrangement did seem more manageable for me despite my at times crumbly disposition.

I do have a request/suggestion though for maybe next semester. I know we all have to do a big final presentation of some kind for Paideia, and while I appreciate the lower key (though still scholarly and interesting) readings we’ve been doing, I’d also be interested to know more about what you all are thinking about for that project, even if it’s your capstone, I’d like to know more about those too. If anyone here is as big a nerd as I am, I’m jacked up about my capstone and love to chat about it – so I guess what I’m suggesting is that maybe when we have our individual presentations, could the person presenting also take a few minutes to tell us about what they’re thinking about for that presentation or for their capstone? Maybe tell us something they’ve learned lately that’s really intrigued them, something from one of their in-major classes that’s really caught their attention lately, something academic or news-worthy that’s got them jacked up? Really, I’d just be interested to know more about the other little outside specifics of what’s interesting you all.


I hope that made some semblance of sense and that you all really do know how much I appreciate getting to learn with and about all of you.

muchas gracias & ciao for now,
moi