Jonathan Sircy

FIRST: I’ll tell you what I’d like to see in my classroom: genuine Socratic dialogue. SECOND: You’ve been reading too much Classical Education hype. What makes you think that’s the answer? FIRST: Formally, it just works. You’ve got to admit that Plato is so much more engaging than most philosophers, mostly because he wrote dialogues!…

Last spring, I exchanged emails with a former student I’ll call Anna. It had been a year since Anna had taken my composition course, and I had just sent her the “Future You” letter she had written to herself as an end-of-the-course assignment. Reading back over her letter had given Anna perspective on herself and…

As sure as April showers bring May flowers, the end of the semester—spring or fall—brings some version of this request from students: “Sorry to email this to you so late, but when I uploaded my final exam, it was not double-spaced. I’ve attached a properly spaced one. I hope I can have some grace. Thank…