Time for a real vacation

I think it's time to take a few days really away from math and the web, mostly because I have some pressing family events coming up. Those events need some real attention: I have a lot of family here in the country I'm visiting and am in some sense bicultural, but I have not lived here for any length of time as an adult and so the dance of politeness and family can be less than fluent. We'll see what can be done. Poor introverts! As I learned from the book "Quiet," introverts observe human interactions as keenly and insightfully as anyone, but at times have trouble performing the dual tasks of observing and participating. I need to do both for the next few days.

So, to what extent do complete vacations improve mathematical thought? I am used to keeping a problem rolling around like a stone in a polisher, tumbling into my conscious thought at odd moments. Really setting it aside is a bit unusual. Perhaps during the semester while paying close attention to student needs I did so, but did not notice so much because of the pressing demands of the moment. Maybe it's better to make a real choice to put aside the math for a few days rather than having it be accepted under duress. People say it's good for you. Are they right?

The book "Quiet" also has a lot to say about why I found teaching 3-3 stressful in a way I hadn't imagined. I don't think I made enough time during the day for retreating into my introverted shell after being "on" for 2-3 hours teaching, 2 hours with students, and a meeting or two. This is a drawback of an open-door policy that is taken very literally. I need to mull over this a bit. Dreamed about teaching last night: I had to come up with a bunch of readings on ethics -- good and evil -- for a small seminar class. I was excited about it although rather stressed by the short time frame given for coming up with a reading list, especially since I've never taught a philosophy or ethics class! Maybe my desire to teach is reviving from its wilted state.

June... almost over...

see you in July!

A (convenient?) truth

I'm at a SLAC that really values an open-door policy, flexibility in meeting with students, and a lot of attention to undergraduates at all levels. This policy is quite successful in many ways and I agree with many of the values that sustain it.

It is important to learn how to set appropriate boundaries in such a system. If you don't, you'll get eaten alive by thousands of little tiny mouths each taking a bite from your wriggling flesh. Yes, you need to prioritize your service commitments, make time for research, keep up your growing excellence in pedagogy, etc. Today, though, I want to talk about students.

Student A: I know you have office hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, but I can only meet Wednesday at 9 am. Can you meet Wednesday at 9 am? I'm really busy with my lab classes but I really want to understand implicit differentiation because I'm very committed to my education.

Professor: (internal sigh as a glance at the calendar reveals weekly squash game. Puts aside squash game because of dedication to accessibility and love of education.) Sure, I can meet at 9 on Wednesday. I'm glad to hear you're interested in understanding implicit differentiation.

Student A: Great! See you Wednesday and I'm really grateful.

Wednesday am: no student. 9:10 no student. 9:20 no student. 11 am no student. Email appears over lunch. "Dear Professor thanks but I figured out how to implicitly differentiate so I didn't come this morning see you in class!"

Repeat with Student B, Stokes' Theorem, with research time rather than squash. You can always do that research later -- this student needs you now!

Repeat with Student C, vertical line test, with faculty coffee hour. Coffee? Who needs coffee?

Repeat with Student D, exponential functions, putting off grading. Well, I don't mind that one (until students start clamoring for the graded work).

Repeat... no, I refuse to repeat.

This year my policy has been that I will not reschedule research time, Skype calls, my trip to the gym, or (most days) my lunch in order to meet with students outside of office hours. I will only meet when I'm genuinely free. I feel less resentful when they don't show up and more present when they do. I go to the gym and faculty coffee hour (or whatever) more often. What's most interesting is that students really don't notice or mind -- they are looking for the most convenient option for themselves but they are not surprised if you have another commitment at a particular time.

Today: "Can't come to office hours have class can I come at 1?" Email sent around midnight. It was the beginning of office hours as I read the email and started responding... and who walked into office hours just minutes later?

Don't think about it too much.