Teaching is Performance Art

Forget January as being the worst. I think the flu levels are higher during the third week of March. Half of my students are sick. Some are coming in while ill and others have advised me of absences due to colds. Our midterm examination occurs next Monday, meaning we are not even half way through our course. Yet for the reason stated, it seems as though we've been studying together ... forever!

This is a little unusual as I haven't really had the flu this winter. Knock on wood; I hope to avoid one. Yet, last night I had trouble sleeping solidly. I saw the alarm clock digits at least every hour of the night. Needless to say, I didn't feel very efficient and effective in this morning's class. Teaching is a weird occupation as it seems important to stay at the top on one's game whenever at work. Most employment isn't like that, right?


This was a class of bright-eyed students in 2009!