To My Students

I read somewhere that the work of the humanities exists in the particulars. I really liked that. For one it’s accurate, which is the first step to saying something really cool. The work of analysis, of close readings, of summary, of comparisons, and of relating to the world all rely on an understanding of how the parts fit in with the whole; it requires the breaking down of a text to its essential elements and describing what’s there. It relies on the nuts and bolts and the nooks and crannies. The other reason I really like that description though is that the word “particulars” has so many moving parts. It’s fun to say. It doesn’t necessarily roll off of the tongue, but instead gets stuck and requires the stopping and starting of sounds. The word forces you to think about it as it claws its way out.

And while my job as a teacher is different from that of poring over texts and writing something cool and smart, it too relies on the particulars - a realization that has not truly presented itself to me until this week. I knew when the call came down that we were moving to an online platform that I would miss my students, but I felt confident in my own ability to carry on with our duties of becoming better and smarter readers and citizens. I embraced the task mostly because we had to, but also because I like a bit of a challenge. I recognized the changes that would come with this, but believed - perhaps out of naivety or maybe it was a lie I needed to tell myself - that discussions online or over video would be effective at filling that void left by a lack of face-to-face interactions. There was a moment where I really thought we could do it. Now, though, I am not as confident.

This isn’t me admitting defeat however. There will be something we get out of this, and I still think our class can participate in engaging discourse, learn how to be better writers, and maybe even gain a better understanding of the world around us. We will still do close readings and summaries and analysis, and we will still learn from one another in new and exciting ways. What we will lose though - and what I am lamenting here - are the particulars.

The bits and pieces that made our learning environment so fantastic - the works of art on my wall or the Monday chats about the weekend or the diversions we all fall into because honestly we just need a break from learning vocab - all have to now fall by the wayside. They are the things that had nothing to do with actual learning, and yet everything to do with maintaining a class. They are the things that I will miss the most. And of course some of this is romanticizing the environment - I still wish you would all stay in your seats and leave your cell phones at home - but that doesn’t take away from the real sadness I feel about losing our collective space. As I previously stated, we will press on and continue with the task before us to the absolute best of our ability, however, know that I am hoping for our speedy return. Not so I can make sure you are doing my work - though please still continue to do the assignments - but so that we can again exist in the space we built and celebrate its particulars.