Like Matt, I also picture Smith, raybanned, on top of a car carrier, on the LA freeway trading blows with Neo. Well when he's not writing, writing books.
Smith was the most enlightening for me this week. I got alot out of this chapter. I agree that the role that writing teacher plays is often quite different from the one that is perceived. I can't imagine teaching writing and not thinking of oneself as a writer but I have taken high school classes from such teachers. If learning is a give and take, a dialogue between learner and instructor then both must be engaged in lessons. Its a growth process, learning by imitating--modeling. "even the best ideas can be misused in the hands of a misguided or insensitive teacher." I fear this happens in classrooms every day and creates kids that hate writing, or at least find it a chore.
"Teachers cannot expect writing to be a controlled and well-ordered activity..." I think this is just the thing that scares some teachers away from great instruction--a fear of loosing the ordered class they struggle to maintain every day. I remember a high school journalism class I observed. Desks were willy-nilly and almost no one sat in them, there was a big old overstuffed sofa in the class that some of the kids were flopped over, it was loud as the kids debated what to write. It was barely-controlled chaos, but the students were totally engaged at what they were doing. The class buzzed with energy. I read some of the work they produced and it was wonderful! Later that day I moved into another writing class, desks in even rows, grammar rules posted on the board, it was like night and day--these kids were not at all into what they were doing. I made the mistake of mentioning the other class to this teacher and she snapped back about students must be kept under control or they will not do their work. No so.
WTL-But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die, ..and to take writing 101. Love the story that reads like a police report. I was heartened by the fact that these guys are in prison and yet they still feel the time is not enough to get their projects completed. "Stan stays after class which means he will miss showers." Stan, you're in prison buddy, this just might be a good thing.
Spandell adds another voice to the shortcomings of government assessment tests. They are inaccurate, biased, and take valuable time out of the year to "teach to the test" I am not a fan.