The Random Thoughts of Louis Schmier

 Well, I’ve been gnashing my teeth, snarling little–and not so little–curses, and contorting my face into gnarls. It’s that time of the term that I despise with an unbridled passion. It’s when I’ve got to come up with those very uneducational and misleading final grades. To go that, I’ve been pouring over copious notations I’ve [...]

 This morning I read a final journal entry made by a first year student. All it said was “53!!!” But, it sure does say it all. I must have sat staring motionless at that number for a couple of minutes: staring, thinking, feeling, listening to its fanfare. I admit my eyes got a bit teary [...]

I want to say something about Trish, our department secretary. She is retiring at the end of this semester after thirty years at VSU, and I am not a happy camper. In fits of selfishness, over the past months I have tried everything in my power to change her mind. I have asked, cried, pleaded, [...]

So many of academics pride themselves on being good talkers. But, do they strike the students on being good listeners? You know, it’s amazing what students will say to you, what they will share with you, and what they will let you say to them, if you just sincerely and intensely listen to them first. [...]

 This past week I was taught a profound lesson that I really can’t talk about. I’ll just say that I learned once again that you have a better chance of netting a student if you troll with unconditional, non-judgmental love. If you’re able to do that, no moment is ordinary and nothing you do will [...]

 I read this in a student’s journal this morning. “Don’t you love it when professors so carelessly say they care about us and think that’s its enough just to say it when they don’t act that way? Who are they kidding? Themselves! Not us!”  That got me thinking. Caring about each student is not shown [...]

 ”I’ve been in the classroom for twenty-three years,” someone just wrote me in a huff. “I know how to teach! And, I know all about the students!” Ah, the curse of close-minded, arrogant, and atrophying certainty. Make it a good day.       –Louis–

 She began with a whispered “Dr. Schmier, can I talk with you for a second?” Her second lasted about forty-five heart-wrenching minutes. She ended with “Please don’t judge me.”  No, I won’t judge her because if I am judgmental of any student, I won’t really see or listen to her or him; she or he [...]