We had our major awards ceremony this past Saturday. As is tradition, we began with a poem by Lucille Clifton that she allowed us to adapt slightly for the occasion.Our president then gave one of his patented speeches, this one centered on Plato’s Meno. It was exactly what I wanted our students to hear: a full-blown defense of the liberal arts.
Tag Archives: Education
Answer the Door, Child–Truth is Knocking
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Light that came to lucille clifton", College, Liberal Arts, Lucille Clifton, Meno, Plato, Socrates Comments closed
Meaning Is the Meaning of the Liberal Arts
When Frost’s tree falls in front of us, it can mean two things (at least). Literally, it’s a hassle. To the unexamined life, that’s all it will ever be. Get down and clear it away. On the other hand, there’s that question of meaning and where it comes from. Human beings do their best when their actions are invested with significance. That’s why we have ceremonies, like this one, to compel us to stop (because time itself doesn’t do so on its own), take some time, reflect on the significance of what is happening to us.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "On a Tree Fallen across the Road", Joseph Urgo, Liberal Arts, Robert Frost Comments closed
The Classics, Better than Business Guides
The Republic, The Art of War, The Social Contract, The Prince, and the Tao Te Ching gave me a way of understanding the broader implications of the business choices I was making. They helped me look beyond the immediate challenges to find a greater purpose. My individual efforts seemed part of a legacy of thinkers and doers who had come before.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Art of War, Business, Darien Bates, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Liberal Arts, Machiavelli, Plato, Prince, Republic, Social Contract, Sun Tzu, Tao Te Ching Comments closed
Faulkner and a Love for the Liberal Arts
Dr. Joseph Urgo wove William Faulkner into his inauguration speech as the new president of St. Mary’s College. Above all, Urgo said, “St. Mary’s exists in the public trust, offering the love of liberal learning–an impassioned, dedicated, humanistic endeavor—to all segments of society.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Absolom Absolom, Joseph Urgo, St. Mary's College of Maryland, William Faulkner Comments closed
Ask Jane: Expert Relationship Advice
“My idea of good company,” says Anne Elliot in Jane Austen’s Persuasion, “is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation.” To which her cousin replies, “That is not good company, that is the best.” I feel that I have emerged from the best of company as my Jane Austen […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Emma, Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Relationships, Sense and Sensibility Comments closed
Which Fairy Tale Covers Essay Grading?
‘Tis the season to be grading, fa la la la la, la la la la. Last week I treated you to my stories about student essays. Today you get to hear thoughts on the subject from Jason Blake, our correspondent in Slovenia. Jason here searches for an archetypal narrative that will do justice to […]
Cock Crowing: Greeting God’s Holy Light
Joan Miro, “Le Coq” Spiritual Sunday This is the story of a student basketball player whose life has been changed by the mystic religious poetry of Henry Vaughan. Okay, so “changed” might be an exaggeration. But the 17th century metaphysical poet is helping Brian sort through a series of life reversals in ways that I […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Cock-Crowing", "World", Henry Vaughan, Religion Comments closed
Read Your Kids Nonsense Poems
I taught Alice in Wonderland a couple of weeks ago and found myself thrown back to wonderful childhood memories of my father reading me Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poetry. Authority figures in the book are always ordering Alice to recite instructional verse, like Issac Watts’ “Against Idleness and Mischief” or Robert Southey’s “The Old Man’s Comforts […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Alligator Pie", "Owl and the Pussycat", Children, Dennis Lee, Edward Lear Comments closed
Most Plagiarists Fail to “Sin Nobly”
Jason Blake’s guest column this week is on the issue of plagiarism. Jason’s experience matches my own: it takes more work to produce a successful plagiarism than to write an acceptable essay. Plagiarism is generally so obvious that the plagiarist resembles Tom Sawyer in the episode involving memorized Bible verses. As you may recall, students […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Douglas Adams, King Lear, Plagiarism, Stanley Fish, William Shakespeare Comments closed
