Okay so I outlined some of the problems our department was facing with our new D*an. A quick synapses of the key events… about three weeks before the term was over, our new d*an removed two faculty from studio classes for winter term… after they defended their students work in critiques… He wants to put his imprint on our program.
So my turn from him to come to critique my students work came last week on Thursday. I was scared to death that I would make the same mistake my colleagues had made and defend my students. So I set up the class to have a gallery setting. All the students had displayed their work in the empty building that they had designed and people could wander from presentation to presentation and talk to the student (rather than a formal presentation where the student present to the whole group and everyone hears the comments). In addition, I had prepped my students that they may encounter criticism and told them how to respond. If they had a well thought out reason for their work to share that with the people doing the critique or just say “I did not know that, thank you.” This arrangement allowed me to not have to listen to every comment that was made and allowed me to walk away to finish up meeting with other students.
My students did phenomenally well. Their work was good and they presented it with confidence.
But… When I got home I fixed myself a stiff drink and drew a hot bath… But I was so wrought up, I got in the tub and I bawled in the bathtub for a half an hour. Babbling how much I love my students and how great they did.
I graded Friday, Saturday and finished up on Sunday (highly unusual for me to be finishing up so late). I was so emotionally exhausted, I have been napping and sleeping and trying to take care of myself.
I have to admit that I am looking for jobs in other locals. I have seldom in my sixty years been under so much stress and it was not even directed at me!!! And what is amazing is our programs were judged to be #2 for undergrad and #4 for grad in the United States. So other knowledgeable people think we are doing a good job with our students. Hmmm
I think I should change my closing to “and so it goes”… but Love and kisses, Marilyn
