Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 13:49:05 -0600
From: "Deborah W. Kilgore" <dkilgore-AT-iastate.edu>
Subject: to question or not to question that is the question


Hello, all.  I've had an opportunity to peruse the archive (was off the
list this month) and saw all the discussion about whether to question, how
to question, etc etc.  Everyone's got an opinion, so have I.  I too get
irritated with people who seemingly come to the altar of wisdom (heh heh)
without a sacrifice.  The questions like "what is habitus?" are, as we all
know, too simplistic to be answered adequately in a pithy 2-liner.  It is
also unclear who among the active participants on the list is qualified to
answer so pithily.  So it may come down to co-constructed meaning, as
someone suggested.  But you can't co-construct without contribution from
all collaborators, I think.

One of my students told me he really learned a lot from my class because he
knew he couldn't get away with not doing the assigned reading and thinking
hard and long about it ("I don't understand the article!" is not an
acceptable contribution to discussions in my class).  He said he had really
hated the demands of my class at the beginning of the semester, but grew to
feel really positive about the outcome:  a more learned self.  Of course,
not all students are thrilled with my approach, but I believe it isn't my
job to simply tell them what's what, but to teach them how to learn it for
themselves.

I guess my answer to students new to Bourdieu would be to "give me
something to go by."  Give me some indication that you want to participate
in scholarship, not just be spoonfed.  If you've tried to read something,
and given some thought to it, I'll be inclined to help if I think I can.

I know, I can always delete the message, and I often do!

Debbie


-----------------------
Deborah Kilgore
Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Iowa State University
N232 Lagomarcino Hall
Ames, IA  50011-3195
office: 515-294-9121, fax: 515-294-4942, email: dkilgore-AT-iastate.edu
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