August 7, 2020
Apple Head and Friday Meetings covid-19: day 150 | US: GA | info | act
Henry brought home an “All About Me!” booklet he had colored. It’s all pretty good, but nothing beats his self-portrait.
He says he’s got an apple core on his head: “It’s an apple head.” Yeah, I see that.
I had an English Department meeting this morning. I don’t belong. I felt like an outsider looking in, the street urchin on a cold winter’s night looking in the window of a warm house—the madwoman in the attic. I don’t know many of these folks, and it seems like everyone has his or her own little niche they talked about. Scholarship was highlighted; good teaching discussed; the department’s resilience lauded. I was part of none of it.
After, I met with Maggie and Matt about the fall’s Norman Mailer Society conference on Zoom. It was great to see these two and grouse a bit about the state of the country. Both of them have chosen to teach online this fall, and I further regret that those above my pay grade have eliminated choice for us educators in Georgia. They both live in the north, so I expect that their states are a bit more progressive, or compassionate (or human). Yet, even Florida seems to have given their faculty a choice. What’s going on with Georgia? Why does it seem you’re trying to punish us for this pandemic? I’m glad to see at least some students protesting, but it’s too late, I’m afraid. Our faculty senate resolution[1] was all but ignored, apparently. There will be completely unnecessary and avoidable casualties, or as the document states: preventable personal tragedy.
I haven’t even wanted to finish my syllabi. I have to really get to those this coming week. At least the first two lessons are ready to go—I have until September to get everything else in shape.
Note
- ↑ This is the gist of it: “[T]he Senate requests that wherever appropriate, and within University System of Georgia policy, in-person and hybrid courses be converted to partially online for the Fall 2020 semester.” I think they shot themselves in the foot by including the subordinate clauses. Just go for it, folks: The Senate requests that all in-person and hybrid courses be converted to partially online for the Fall 2020 semester. Simple and to-the-point. What do I know? As the communications often imply: shut up; you’re lucky you have a job. Yeah.
