So, it's my first blog from Vegas. It's been a month and I was feel so very bad about not having written in so long, but looking back a month might be one of the smallest of my “big” gaps. I'm in a new city and as I considered what to say there were any number of news stories to chose from. All of them, however, would take considerable emotional effort from me, not to mention I haven't given them the sort of thought they deserve. For that reason I will instead talk a little bit about my new home.

To begin with, people in Vegas cannot drive. Now, when I say cannot I don't mean aren't physically able, but I do mean aren't mentally able. I know everyone likes to complain that Boston is the worst city in the world to drive in, but really that is only true if you don't know how the city drives. It is perhaps one of the least frustrating cities I've ever driven in. Vegas, however, is a study in annoyance. People are trying to get to the casinos or their hotel or whatever. Fine, grand, wonderful, but when there is obviously no parking lot entrance in sight why drive 20 mph? Just in case? Maybe you'll miss the GIANORMOUS NEON SIGN? Come on people! Other than that it is the easiest city I've ever driven in.

The school is pretty sweet. It's big; it's flashy. I like that. I like the people, I like the teachers. Unfortunately I don't always agree with the composition pedagogy. For instance, you can walk into an English 101 class and say I'm going to teach these kids what they need to know to make in life and if they don't get it that's their problem. Or, and I'm just throwing this out there, you can walk in and say hey, why don't I first see what you know, help you learn how to say it, and then improve both your thinking and writing skills. I don't know, it's just an idea. There are skills young adults need to learn to have a successful professional career, but can't I provide those skills in conjunction with focusing on helping them sharpen their minds and thought processes? People who learn to think and express themselves learn to write better by default. The two go hand-in-hand. I feel that if I approach my class with the attitude of them failing to learn what I provide as their problem I've already failed to a certain degree. People will rise to the standard you set for them.

So that's my little rant. I'll keep you updated on how the semester goes. I know, I'm just a youngin' in the teaching world and don't know everything yet. But I still feel, more strongly than anything else, that it is a priority to first teach students how to formulate thought before criticizing them for an inability to express it.