Dr.GH
Posts: 2324
Joined: May 2002
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I had enrolled in a summer ceramics class. I taught ceramics for many years. The first school classes I taught were middle school science for Spanish speakers, in 1971. Then the school added us to the "mentally gifted" classes, after the "retarded" Hispanics started to excel. I next taught high school science in 1972, specifically tenth grade "life science."
But, in my last year in high school I took ceramics. 1971 was the year I flunked sophomore orgainic chemistry at UCI. And starting in 1971, I taught pottery to UC Irvine students. 1971 was the year I built my first kiln.
These pottery associated activities, and flunking organic (well, really a "D" in the second session) were directly associated with my doctorate in 1976. I really liked science (just not organic chem), I really liked pottery. The ceramics program at UCI was dominated by a "minimalist" principal, Dept. Head, John Mason.
In a tale for another day, I incorrectly though that I could not study with John Mason. (I think that I was better off in science, but around 1973 I did become one of Jhon Mason's students).
So, I became an anthropologist who specialized in the study of ceramic technologies. Dissertation ensued following five years in the pottery making villages of Yucatan, Mexico. (And learning Spanish, and Yucateco Mayan).
I have had various ceramic projects in mind for over 30 years. So, I tried to sit through the first few days of a Community College ceramics class. It did not help that this was a school that fired me the same year I was named "Professor of the Year," and the Board of Trustees awarded me a "Certificate of Meritorious Service."
My pottery class teacher is a nitwit. I am better qualified to teach this class than he is. I was told directly that independent projects were not allowed, so I can neither execute the projects I want to see done, nor avoid the obstructive piffle from the "teacher."
I quit today, day 2.
Edited by Dr.GH on June 25 2008,23:20
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"Science is the horse that pulls the cart of philosophy."
L. Susskind, 2004 "SMOLIN VS. SUSSKIND: THE ANTHROPIC PRINCIPLE"
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) then various weekends pursuing Oncorhynchus mykiss with my trusty fly rod and playing amateur entomologist. Besides that, refreshing my knowledge of Muscular Dystrophy as I will be working with a student who has the disease next school year. Oh, yes, completing my last 50 lbs of my weight loss plan (85 lbs to date 
