Amherst Thoughts

From one of my Amherst professors, still teaching (since 1958!), William Pritchard:

An AC grad himself, he said, "I was opened up to the imaginative possibilities of argument and of talk and reading. It was an education in extending oneself in various ways." Precisely! Contrast this with the indoctrination, narrowness often found in education today.

Also, "When I read outside of class for an essay or a review, I find, again and again, something that I can use: formulatons or just something new discovered." From my own perspective as a teacher, yes, yes, yes!

"I'm mainly interested in helping students free themselves a bit and open up to a more complicated and refined kind of pleasure than they've perhaps experienced before. '...the grand elementary principle of pleasure by which we know and feel and live and move.'" Of course! Who will remember that the Magna Carta was signed in 1215 (don't ask how I remember!) or what happened in 12th C Africa? Very few, but, well, see the above....

And, my professors didn't employ "magic circles," group work, "icebreakers," or any of that other garbage that passes for educational/teaching methods today. My classes were lecture and seminar, always, always open for discussion. Sometimes I think they were wasted on a youthful me! But, I was "indoctrinated," with a love of learning and inquiry.

I was very fortunate and I thank my lucky stars (and professors) every day.