Editor's Note, November 2003
Elizabeth Haller
Instructor, Central Michigan University
E-mail: editoraee@hotmail.com
I hope your transition back into the school year has been relatively seamless. For me, and for many of you I'm sure, the new school year has involved a process of juggling. Why does it seem like we face the same dilemmas every year and yet still stress as though it is the first time we've encountered such issues? The main dilemma/issue I speak of is that of effective time management.
I recently had a conversation with a colleague in which we verbalized an all too common concern that the amount of time we devote weekly to elements of our work life--meetings, teaching, planning, grading, etc.--may be far exceeding the amount of time we devote weekly to any elements of our personal life. This is a bit disturbing but not at all surprising. Although I was aware of my poor time management skills when it came to separating work from personal life, I hadn't actually verbalized it to such an extent before.
While I have a passion for academia, for writing, for imparting knowledge on young minds, thereby expanding and improving lives, even slightly, in four month increments throughout the year, I realize that my attention must be spread a little more evenly. Perhaps I am spending too much time making sure each semester's new crop of students is receiving all that I have to offer and not enough time making sure my own family is receiving all that I have to offer. Where is the balance? How is it obtained? What is the secret? And how do I keep from losing it each semester? On the one hand, I don't want my students to suffer from my time deprivation, but on the other hand, and more importantly, I don't want my family to suffer as well. How can I attend meetings, teach, grade papers, and make lesson plans while still making sure that my time spent as parent doesn't suffer? Better yet, how can I do all of this and still find time to sleep? I know I'm not the only one to face such a situation, and I find comfort in that, but I am confident that I can achieve a lasting and proper balance. I can only conclude that the balance will come about through practice, persistence, and time. Whatever the conclusion may be for others, the key to remember is that we are not only educators but individuals as well. Let us not forget that.
With this issue we present the second of Lynne Fukuda's three-part series discussing her experiences at the Caribbean Primate Research Center in Puerto Rico. Check out Fukuda's "The View from Here" for an enlightening and personal look into primate research.
Also with this issue we present the fourth ingredient of a five-part series from independent Canadian education researcher Dan Lukiv entitled "The Teacher." Depending on what part of the world you are in, you may be able to use a little something reminiscent of summer right about now. You'll find that with Lukiv's fourth ingredient. According to Lukiv, "For the teacher, the end of the year, that last day of classes before summer vacation begins, can create excitement for new experiences and sadness over 'losing' those students to other teachers. That last day can create other ambivalences too." Lukiv invites you to see these ambivalences for yourself.
This month's second feature article, "Against the Grain: Teaching Multicultural Literature to Middle Class Values," by Myra Mendible, discusses her experiences creating a multicultural curriculum as one of the founding faculty members of the English program at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Our third feature is an intriguing piece of fiction by J.M. Parker entitled "Aqua Alta," where, according to Parker, "In a sinking city, a love affair ends before it begins." Parker goes on to state that, "Sometimes things between people happen or don't happen without your being able to say why. And sometimes what doesn't happen takes on a greater resonance than what does."
Jayne Fenton Keane leads off this month's Poet's Corner with her poem, "Catching the Light North of the Tropic of Capricorn." This is the second of two pieces by Keane to be published in the Corner. Keane describes "Catching the Light" as "an exploration of science, mysticism and grief."
Our second contribution to Poet's Corner is Catherine Daly's poem, "Pace Setter." Daly's inspiration came "after interviewing to teach and write training documentation at the company described, which was located in a new industrial park in an area which had been quite rural. There were still goats grazing in a lot next to McDonalds, and many of the roads in the area surrounding the office were not paved." Daly's second contribution, "This Continuous," is about "the peculiar nonlocality in a very particular place and time: the Hollywood Hills under the marine layer."Our final contributor to the Corner is Erica Woiwoide. This is the first of four groups of poems by Woiwode to be published in AEE. According to Woiwode, both "d.j.c." and "unrequited" are about lost love, plain and simple.
Enjoy this month's submissions, and as you do, consider offering us a piece of your work. Check out our Call for Papers on this site for more details on submission requirements. Also, if you are interested in joining our editorial staff, positions are available. E-mail me for more details <editoraee@hotmail.com>.
As always, don't forget to check out Grist for the Mill for possible submission ideas.
Best wishes,
Elizabeth Haller, Editor-in-Chief
Academic Exchange Extra invites reader responses to any writings in this issue--especially articles advancing the scholarly debate of issues raised.
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