Nerd News: A Prof Looks at University Teaching Problems

Well, it ain't pretty -- as I've told you.

But this piece, like most pieces of this type, speaks largely of general terms and groups of people and trends and such. Spare a thought for individual nerds out slogging in the trenches of academia, trying their best both to survive AND, maybe, just maybe, teach something real in a way that matters.

As for the sweeping generalizations about grad school and grad students, I beg to differ. The prof-writer bemoans the fact that there's not enough "heterodoxy" in Nerdworld. Well, what the heck does he think that I'm DOING? that people like me are DOING? Fighting an uphill battle is what, and getting shot at all the time by the campus orthodoxy and unsympathetic nerds and Nerd Lords. WE ARE THE NERD UNDERGROUND, AND WE WANT SOME PROPS.