If I didn’t say this before, I am saying it now. With every post of yours related to teaching, I certainly think this:
I wish, wish, wish that I had been one of your students. You, James, create a teaching and learning memory that one never forgets. One remembers the course content too, but you my friend, create an enduring marriage of professor AND course content.
This is the 1% of academia, my friend. A worthy classification of the 1%.
Did I ever mention my senior high school history teacher, Mr Bauld? He was a member of your impressive ranks. Yet that was high school. College and university experiences belong in another category.
Something else about this article of yours. I love how freely you express your disappointment, sadness and frustration with the situation. I have heard others do something similar and then turn around, ignore the threat still seriously among us re covid-19, and engage in actual face to face behaviors that end up putting everyone at risk. Only because these folks are totally frustrated at missing things, like graduation and other stuff.
You, James, halt at the frustration part. You come up with a beautiful alternative with your personal emails. Then you stop. In recognition of the virus danger still out these. You did not invite 60 people to your backyard for a BBQ.
The virus wishes you did ( rubbing its hands gleefully at the prospect of infecting your guests as they munch on BBQ chicken)…but you are serious about beating the shit out of it ( the virus, not the chicken…).
You are pissed that covid-19 is in your way, but that’s it. Bravo my friend. I am with ya.
