Dec 02 2008
Teachers Should Be Lovers: Insights from an Alan Alda book
While I rarely read a fictional novel, I will sometimes read biographies and other works of non-fiction for entertainment. This week I’m reading Alan Alda’s “Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself“. The book caught my eye in the school library because I’m a fan of the TV show M*A*S*H, in which Alda starred. I wasn’t really expecting to find much there to write about in my blog, only something interesting to read.
But I had forgotten that Mr. Alda hosted the PBS series Scientific American Frontiers and has a keen interest in science. While reading his book, I discovered a new brother– someone who appreciates both art and science, and constantly looks for connections between the two. I discovered a kinship with someone who shares with me a similar view of the world and of life. He writes:
Allowing this childish curiosity to continue on through my whole life has given me satisfaction and maybe even a sense of meaning. It stimulates a part of my brain that registers pleasure; and whether it has meaning or not, it feels as though it does. No matter how old I get, I have the feeling that if I can keep this curiosity flame lit, I’ll see the world in a way that never gets stale…
That’s it! That is precisely how I feel! I never want to stop learning and I don’t care if what I am learning about has a practical value or not as long as I am enjoying what I am learning. How can I convey this love of learning to my students? I can certainly identify with having apathy. I wasn’t always an eager student. It took me many years in the “University of Hard Knocks” to discover that I did have what it takes to be a successful student and an eager learner. How can I help my students bypass the drudgery and get to the love of learning straight away?
Interestingly, in a graduation speech (Alda’s book is full of graduation speeches) to a group of CalTech graduates, Alan Alda has some recommendations:
I’m asking you today to devote some significant part of your life to figuring out how to share your love of science with the rest of us…
Like the young man so head over heels about his sweetheart, he can’t stop talking about her; like the young woman so in love with her young man, she wants everyone to know how wonderful he is… show us pictures, tell us stories, make us crave to meet your beloved.
Don’t just tell us science is good for us and therefore, we ought to fund you for it… be lovers!
Look, we’re accustomed in our culture to know when a commercial is coming. We know how to turn it off. But love we can’t resist. (read the full text of his speech here)
This is where so many teachers go wrong; it’s where I’ve gone wrong. We get so caught up in being taken seriously. We want to be viewed as the expert. We want to wow them with our knowledge, and we forget to show them our love and our passion for what we are doing.
I have decided that to show my passion for what I do, I will no longer be afraid to have a little fun and to be a little silly to make my love for my subject known to my students. If I lose some credibility with some because of it, I’m not worried because I am being my genuine self. I am a little silly, I do like to have fun, and I do love learning! I want my students to see that the stuff I teach doesn’t have to be tedious and boring. I think we can have deep, serious learning while still being a little silly at the same time.
It is an interesting paradox. Recall the young man and young woman in love that Mr. Alda speaks of– few people are sillier than when they are first enjoying a new love, but few people are more serious at the same time. Somehow if we can only convey the romance, the excitement, and the true joy of learning, how can we fail as teachers?
4 responses so far
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You have hit the nail on the head! Thinking about my myriad number of teachers I have had, the ones that expressed their love for their topic are the ones I remember. I remember the lessons better when they were presented in a light hearted, goofier way. Make learning fun! That’s it! I would look forward to those lectures and walk out enlivened and excited.
Good stuff, Bill. This is how I teach: a little silly but obviously passionate about the content and the students. They realize it as well. My wife commented the other day that she was amazed how many of my former students come back to me with the same giddy look in their faces. They know I truly, passionately care about them and their learning. That means more than a test score.
I take that same passion in my new job working with teachers integrating technology. I advocate on their behalf on the campus, in the district, in state organizations, and in the state legislature. I face it with the same attitude of passion and playfulness (that part keeps me sane).
We must love what we are doing and let it show. Otherwise, why work so hard trying to impress people? If it is not genuine, that will show through. It is why I love Gary Stager. He offends some folks with his brashness, but he is genuine and passionate about education. He is out to make positive, affective change, not to impress people.
Thanks for sharing the book. I just might have to add that one to my wish list on Amazon.
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[...] Teachers Should Be Lovers: Insights from an Alan Alda bookThis week I’m reading Alan Alda’s “Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself”. The book caught my eye in the school library because I’ma fan of the TV show M*A*S*H, in which Alda starred. I wasn’t really expecting to find much there to . [...]