Teaching as Vocation
Wednesday, November 05
Brian Borovsky, Physics; Dan Hofrenning, Political Science and 2007-08 Lilly Vocational Scholar; Carol Holly, English and 2007-08 Lilly Vocational Scholar; and Donna McMillan, Psychology
(co-sponsor: Lilly Program for Lives of Worth and Service)
In recent years, St. Olaf College has focused attention on the topic of vocation. But very little has been said about the vocation which the faculty of the college practice every day. This session provides an opportunity for faculty to talk about what it means to be "called" to teach. What does it mean to be a teacher? Can we understand this work as a calling or vocation? If we do, what are the implications? These and other questions will be taken up first by a panel of faculty colleagues and then by other participants. We look forward to a lively, engaging discussion.
Left off the original announcement was a list of four books suggested for further reading on teaching and vocation:
- Ken Bain, What the Best College Teachers Do (Harvard, 2004)
- Wayne Booth, The Vocation of a Teacher (Chicago, 1991)
- Mary Rose O'Reilly, The Garden at Night: Burnout and Breakdown in the Teaching Life (Heineman, 2005)
- Parker Palmer, The Courage to Teach (Jossey-Bass, 1998)
