tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post335145598149396971..comments2024-02-04T00:30:07.350-08:00Comments on The Mathematical Yawp: The Lesson of Grace in TeachingFrancis Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-26864349048679720642013-03-29T10:12:05.893-07:002013-03-29T10:12:05.893-07:00Thank you for sharing this! I know it to be true b...Thank you for sharing this! I know it to be true but often wrestle with this in my own teaching!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294424486703837870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-19542203945699685322013-02-20T16:01:06.371-08:002013-02-20T16:01:06.371-08:00Thank you Francis. Munyi fwded this to me after I ...Thank you Francis. Munyi fwded this to me after I had a bit of a crisis in teaching and I realize that somewhere along the way, I had stomped the grace out of my teaching. I valued performance so much that I started to equate it with not only my students' worth but also my worth as an educator. Their failures were my failures. The concept of grace is so hard to hold on to because it seems like a mental/spiritual discipline sometimes in the midst of evaluating students, evaluating myself, and wanting all of us to strive towards better achievements. Thank you for this reminder to return to grace... JiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-89610467958848122772013-01-25T07:41:46.245-08:002013-01-25T07:41:46.245-08:00Thank you Professor Su, for articulating so clearl...Thank you Professor Su, for articulating so clearly a principle I have cultivated and applied in my teaching practice, but never had the words to share it with my colleagues and students. Your article itself, as evident by the outpouring of thanks in these comments, is grace itself.Only the Good...https://www.blogger.com/profile/07911633951384546323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-84368121545346129272013-01-24T21:55:03.375-08:002013-01-24T21:55:03.375-08:00So true, George. I loved your response to my essa...So true, George. I loved your response to my essay. Thanks!Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-1987009464911282722013-01-24T17:57:14.165-08:002013-01-24T17:57:14.165-08:00Thanks, but nothing was restored. All that's ...Thanks, but nothing was restored. All that's in my Notes is a draft that I made (to try to reconstruct the original after it was deleted, but it's NOT the original (which had ID number 10151372450043217). I'm guessing the FB people saw that and thought it was the original, but it's not. Thanks for trying, though.Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-66614400265459284472013-01-24T09:27:20.178-08:002013-01-24T09:27:20.178-08:00Well, it's been approved for re-instatement! Y...Well, it's been approved for re-instatement! You should have received some communication about what next steps are required. I really hope that the comments are preserved as well!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295475375309011640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-7866839662513049122013-01-24T08:29:34.437-08:002013-01-24T08:29:34.437-08:00Dr. Su,
Thank you for this. I think we also need t...Dr. Su,<br />Thank you for this. I think we also need to extend grace to ourselves, and I that's the subject of my response. <br /><br />http://www.gtanders.com/creativity/extending-grace-to-yourself/<br /><br />Thank you again.<br />Georgegtandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15649712497244455310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-16443912841642969072013-01-23T00:52:33.131-08:002013-01-23T00:52:33.131-08:00I'm so happy to hear this. Grad school was su...I'm so happy to hear this. Grad school was such a difficult time for me, but as my essay suggests, every hardship I've experienced has been used since then to show grace to others. And now even the popularity of the essay has redeemed my hardships multiple times over... in some sense, it makes me feel happy to have suffered. Weird eh? So I'm confident that all your failings and difficulties will be redeemed as instruments of grace too.Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-69300417869330815752013-01-23T00:38:20.093-08:002013-01-23T00:38:20.093-08:00Bhaskar, your words ring true. I've been over...Bhaskar, your words ring true. I've been overwhelmed and surprised by the reaction to my essay, but indeed I am happy to share it in hopes that it can help people think differently about the craft of teaching.Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-10816267023636867932013-01-23T00:34:41.802-08:002013-01-23T00:34:41.802-08:00Catherine, thanks so much for this feedback. Means...Catherine, thanks so much for this feedback. Means a lot to me because I know you and Andy to be such gifted writers. And come to think of it, a "gift", as the parlance suggests, is also grace, isn't it? Something one does not earn, but is given anyway. :-)Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-57711586604092373582013-01-23T00:20:51.668-08:002013-01-23T00:20:51.668-08:00Thanks for your kind words. Remember that you, as...Thanks for your kind words. Remember that you, as a student, can show your professors grace, too. Especially the ones you feel are not good teachers. Acts of grace from you will motivate them to grow in their teaching, and will help you see what they struggle with. One example: you can send your professor a note of thanks, affirming what you like about their teaching. You may not feel like it (because they didn't earn it), but that is an act of grace. Better yet, get the whole class to show your professor grace! What professor wouldn't feel joy and motivation after that? :-)<br />Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-18301195409982697682013-01-21T06:42:10.645-08:002013-01-21T06:42:10.645-08:00Thank you, thank you so much for this article. Und...Thank you, thank you so much for this article. Understanding grace is so elusive, but it is also so true and so good. As a math graduate student, reading and re-reading this gives me motivation to enjoy my studies and to be a better TA, and it gives me hope that my failings and shortcomings can be and will be used to show grace.Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468198029185854663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-61136745587258111632013-01-20T23:48:38.434-08:002013-01-20T23:48:38.434-08:00Dr. Phaup! So wonderful to hear from you. You ha...Dr. Phaup! So wonderful to hear from you. You have shown my family great grace over the years, and in some of our most difficult times. I am really grateful. And so honored that you would ready my essay.Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-15596670294627340122013-01-20T22:20:25.184-08:002013-01-20T22:20:25.184-08:00Dear Francis,
Your definition and exposition of ...Dear Francis, <br /><br />Your definition and exposition of "grace" crystallizes beautifully what I have felt and experienced myself as a student and teacher over the years, but could never articulate so clearly. I will never forget a mentor in graduate school who offered me unconditionally warm support and advice during a low period. I am grateful to have the chance to pay it forward in my own interactions with students, by treating them all as worthy individuals deserving of encouragement, advice, help, or as they very often need, a friendly, non-judgemental, ear.<br /><br /> We live in an achievement-oriented society, particularly in academia, with its strong emphasis on competition and external evaluation of achievement through grading, recognitions, etc. Much harm is done by this system, both to those students who do poorly, but counter-intuitively, even to those who do well, because it reinforces the wrong connection between self-worth and achievement. <br /><br />I wrote about something related a while ago, the "impostor syndrome" (the name given to the feelings of inferiority that many students doing a Ph.D. have). I'd like to share it with you and your readers: http://academicsfreedom.blogspot.com/2011/01/impostor.html<br /><br />I wrote there that "having given the matter much thought over the years, I feel that what exacerbates the impostor syndrome, or perhaps even gives rise to it in the first place, is adopting the world view that ties one's sense of self-worth to one's achievements and treats achievement as the goal of one's efforts."<br /><br />I believe that your talk, by urging educators to think differently, and treat all students with grace, could have a tremendously positive impact. Thank you for sharing it with the world.<br /><br />Best,<br />Bhaskar Bhaskarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794187138960706452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-19787950023361916242013-01-20T15:47:16.625-08:002013-01-20T15:47:16.625-08:00Hi Francis,
This is truly awesome. Thank you so mu...Hi Francis,<br />This is truly awesome. Thank you so much for crafting this and sharing it!<br /><br />blessings,<br />CatherineCatherine Crouchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09540056731690332320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-58660711608552550272013-01-20T14:02:37.775-08:002013-01-20T14:02:37.775-08:00Francis,
You write so gracefully about grace. Wo...Francis,<br /><br />You write so gracefully about grace. Would that all teachers everywhere could understand this -- that it's not ALL about the subject matter. That people matter. That how well a student is doing in your class at some point in time is exactly that; but it is not a measure even of the student's overall intelligence or industriousness, much less a measure of his or her value as a fellow human being. My wife, who taught freshman English, ESL, high school English to kids, most of whom spoke Spanish as a first language, and adult literacy, was one of the most incredible teachers I ever knew. Much of her magic stemmed precisely from the vast store of grace which she freely doled out to any and all of her students on a daily basis. Some of my own teachers were fascinating lecturers, but every teacher who really touched my life did it through grace as you describe it. No wonder Jesus Christ was the greatest teacher who ever lived. He gave everything, even his own life, for His students (all of us). What grace! Those who want to be great teachers and to really impact their students' lives have only to emulate His example. From what you describe, you do that wonderfully. I have known you since you were a child, but I'm so happy you have revealed this important aspect of your personal and professional life here that otherwise I never would have known. I can see why this piece has been so wildly popular. It strikes a responsive chord with so many teachers, students, and former students. And many of us have room to learn from your experience. Thanks. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09894612059745258616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-18889275269714419842013-01-20T13:43:44.257-08:002013-01-20T13:43:44.257-08:00Hello Professor Francis. I really enjoyed reading ...Hello Professor Francis. I really enjoyed reading your article. It really gave me more hope for my aspiring path in life. Currently Im a senior at Hofstra university and I am a major in mathematics and biology. I apply mathematics in to the many fields of science, something rare because of how much work it takes to master even one of the fields.<br /><br />I learned about you when I started watching your videos for real analysis. You are an amazing professor and you should be a model for all other professors, because believe it or not, not every professor can profess. <br /><br />I looked into your work more and what you have been doing in terms of research. I would love to talk to you one day and possibly work on something together as well, because it would be an honor! <br /><br />Thank you for everything!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13037152658346348484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-50785846848612281832013-01-20T06:34:57.529-08:002013-01-20T06:34:57.529-08:00Thank you, Francis. This is a lovely expression of...Thank you, Francis. This is a lovely expression of what it means to be a powerful teacher, a worthy person. Thank you.Jeff Hobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17326012386280240563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-13364675080580662512013-01-19T23:47:52.776-08:002013-01-19T23:47:52.776-08:00Carrie, so great to hear from a Mudder! We're...Carrie, so great to hear from a Mudder! We're keeping the torch burning brightly here! :-)Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-19680978072783408992013-01-19T23:45:36.963-08:002013-01-19T23:45:36.963-08:00Thanks to you both. And for roolily, I might reco...Thanks to you both. And for roolily, I might recommend Parker Palmer's books, especially "To Know as We are Known" in which he explores the importance of community in education.Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-23767082483565165132013-01-19T23:39:36.365-08:002013-01-19T23:39:36.365-08:00You're right, Emily... grad school is almost u...You're right, Emily... grad school is almost universally a difficult adjustment. I think it's partly because as students we are so used to benchmarking our progress (and our worthiness) by the grades we get, and when we stop taking classes then we no longer have that regular feedback. I was so miserable then, after striving so hard and still hitting bottom. But that experience has helped me see now that any good thing that happens in my life is just pure grace. Thanks for writing! And hooray for CMC!Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-71127769078596908322013-01-19T17:42:10.776-08:002013-01-19T17:42:10.776-08:00Carrie, "right understanding about" ours...Carrie, "right understanding about" ourselves is what stood out for me, too. <br /><br />Beautiful talk, thank you. It's helpful for people in any profession. I love the ideas of a community of truth and just assessment separate from worthiness. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-14337182163598379432013-01-19T13:19:02.687-08:002013-01-19T13:19:02.687-08:00This is so wonderful! I saw the link from a friend...This is so wonderful! I saw the link from a friend of mine on FB and shared it with some of my colleagues. The whole thing has given me a lot to think about, but the part about feeling like a failure in grad school--I'm not sure I know a single person who, at some point, didn't feel that way. Some more than others, sure. This would have helped me a lot then (and the idea of dignity separated from acomplishment was certainly one I learned in grad school), but it helps me now to think about my own attitudes toward teaching and toward my students. Thanks very much for this. (And, as a slight non-sequiter, I graduated from CMC in 1998. It's not a surprise this came from someone who teaches at the 5 colleges!) Emily Lavin Leveretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07792628199296219212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-39979146211336889112013-01-19T12:56:01.562-08:002013-01-19T12:56:01.562-08:00Indeed, Muhammad!Indeed, Muhammad!Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1931416761128242038.post-52473975639431552052013-01-19T12:55:26.689-08:002013-01-19T12:55:26.689-08:00Thanks, Alba. Yes, my life lessons come from a pl...Thanks, Alba. Yes, my life lessons come from a place of weakness and I'm no longer afraid to show it. If we are never vulnerable, we'll never know if anyone can truly love us for who we are and not just for what we've done. Without showing weakness, we'll never be the recipients of grace.Francis Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723473802698482465noreply@blogger.com