Author Archives: Mike Deal

Before the grindstone that transforms idealism into realism begins to turn,a teacher dreams of what could be. Don’t give them a roadmap, give them a compass. Don’t give them a pathway to “Success” or a roadmap to riches.Prescription kills curiosity and joy. Teach them the principles of navigation.And give them courage to drift and wander.TheContinue reading “Early August”

Decades later, it is only now I can make a reliable judgement. This ship and my time on it left a lasting impression. Sometimes I wonder what impressions 20-somethings are finding these days. I hope somehow, somewhere, they are finding things like this.

Rustling through a dusty broom closest called “home office” today. Starting to think about the upcoming re-entry. The 20-something-th semester. Maybe this will be the time I have it! Probably not, and that’s why I come back. For some reason this image on the wall caught my eye. Hands, rough on the outside but softContinue reading “Simple Not Easy”

This time of year, the “going-back” time of year, always makes me question what I have to offer students.  It’s a good kind of questioning, more of a wondering really.  The day I stop should be followed by the day leadership sends me on my way. This reference frame, a reference frame of offering, got me thinkingContinue reading “Offerings”

I’ve never been to The Deep.  Many years ago I worked in the shallows.  Science and discovery were the endgame.  But there was this guy Glen who was always getting in the way.  He was constantly on us about procedure, skills, drills and redundancy.  We had the pedal-to-the-metal in the name of science.  Glen was slow, methodical and always checkingContinue reading “Skills, Drills and Redundancy”

An email from a friend and fantastic colleague: Have we missed the mark? The songs of protest against knowing the names in a dead language   Louder and louder The feeling of being perceived as “different”; not a comfortable place to dwell.  Up for evaluation.  Maybe I should be worried too. To him To “get with theContinue reading “The Reluctant Teacher”

I was hanging over the rail loosing my lunch (or in this case breakfast) and looked up to see Captain Dan’s smile from the flybridge.  It wasn’t a smile to rub salt in the wound; it was a friendly, knowing smile as if to say we’ve all been there kid, now get back to work.  I workedContinue reading “Captain Dan”

Half-a-lifetime ago I spent some time sitting alone on Ellwood bluffs looking out at the ocean.  Eight years of higher education in the rearview mirror, I knew quite a lot about some things, I could talk a good talk, I could write a darn good discussion section.  Tired.  Broken.     Central to the view off the bluffs at EllwoodContinue reading “Holly”

Maybe it was just my harsh teenage filter, but I remember a few teachers in high school that seemed done before the first day.  Guys that seemed better suited to a bad game of golf or maybe a nap.  Guys that whoever was in charge should have put out to pasture, but for some reason that wasn’tContinue reading “Validated by a Crow”

I’ve been taking walks in the park in the afternoon these days. I plan to go every day; I make it about half the time. Some might say I’m not a very committed walker and they’d be right. Almost every time I walk, I see the same two people also walking. We pass and smile,Continue reading “The Sacred Unspoken Language”