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Teacher

Higher Ed: For Some Teachers “It’s Not A Matter Of Being Nice But Setting Great Expectations”

Just about everybody can recall an influential teacher who nurtured and inspired them. But not all great teachers are “warm and fuzzy.” In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and KUT’s Jennifer Stayton explore dealing with fantastic teachers who have challenging personalities.

Ed recalls a wonderful Philosophy teacher he had in college whose lectures Ed describes as “utterly fascinating” but whose personality he says was kind of “off-putting.”

But that naturally raises the question: Can a good teacher have, well, a bad personality?

Ed encourages students to steer clear of that simple dichotomy and instead examine potential reasons for behavior that may appear less than nurturing.

“He had incredibly high standards so that might have been kind of like the not-friendly part,” recalls Ed. “It’s not a matter of being nice, but it’s a matter of setting great expectations.”

Ed says society now desperately needs people to treat each with kindness, politeness and respect, especially when they disagree. But he believes sometimes teachers need to use different tools to motivate a group of students.

“There is something to be said for that kind of tough love, so it’s not meanness but it’s tough love,” Ed believes. “You want the person to be more independent. You want that person to reach further than they thought they could.”

Listen to the entire episode to hear why Ed also believes that, at least sometimes, that teacher “tough love” might be more of an act than the teacher’s true personality. Also listen on for the solution to last week’s Roman numerals puzzler (don’t worry – no tough love if you didn’t get it!).

This episode was recorded on Aug. 7, 2019.

After this episode was recorded, Dr. Ed Burger announced that he is leaving Southwestern University in Jan. 2020 to become President and Chief Executive Officer of St. David’s Foundation.

Back To School Supplies

It’s that time of the year — students are heading back to class and so is their stuff. That’s the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Texas Standard: July 16, 2019

Not another presidential tweet or campaign jab, but a change in the federal register that could lead to a profound change at the southern border. The new rules could effectively stop asylum claims at the border with Mexico, and it is certain to get a challenge in court. We’ll take a closer look. Also, teachers were promised pay raises. But who gets what, and why? Some disappointed by the calculus are promising political payback. And a slowdown in oil country, layoffs coming? Quite the opposite. Those stories and then some today on the Texas Standard:

Standards

The Texas Legislature is considering changes to school standards. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Texas Standard: April 12, 2019

A push for teacher pay raises, but what about other state workers? State employees take to the streets in protest, we’ll have the latest. Also, the student government at Texas State university votes to ban a conservative student group. What the president of Texas State has to say about allegations of an attempt to curb conservative speech at the university. And there’s Lollapalooza, there’s ACL fest, and a new music festival for west Texas? Many locals say not so fast. Plus the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more today on the Friday edition of the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: April 11, 2019

When was the last time you heard three top Texas Republicans call for a tax increase statewide? There’s more to the story, of course, and we’ve got it. Also, Texas may be tops in wind power, but the oil and gas industry not content taking a backseat. Asher Price of the Austin American Statesman on the pushback. And the latest social media platform to grab young people’s attention: why’s it Tic Tok’s time in the spotlight? Digital savant Omar Gallaga checks in. And the teacher in Lubbock making conversations about mental health an everyday thing for her students. All those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: April 4, 2019

Texas house lawmakers give the green light to a 9 billion dollar school funding bill plus a teacher pay raise. But what happens next will be critical. Also, after a slap on the wrist from the nation’s high court, a major change coming to Texas’ execution chamber. We’ll have the what and why. Also, the pay gap for women in tech. And what could be rare bipartisan action in congress, this time to deal with what some call a retirement savings crisis. Plus your weekend trip tip and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: April 3, 2019

Just two weeks after the petrochemical disaster in Deer Park, another chemical fire at a plant outside of Houston: this one deadly. We’ll have the latest. Plus: 9 dead, 20 injured, nearly 200 arrested and 4 years later, all cases dismissed yesterday without a single conviction. What happened after the Waco biker shootout? And what are the lessons? Plus, a warning about a quarter of Texas’ dams, we’ll take a look. And they call it the Rio Grande Valley, but where are the mountains? Our commentator W.F. Strong on an etymological mystery and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: April 2, 2019

The price of a would-be border shutdown? We’ll do the numbers and talk with the mayor of one of Texas’ biggest border cities, Laredo. Plus, 2020: it’s not just about counting votes, but counting heads, too. We’ll look at what’s at stake for Texas in the upcoming census. Also, after previous fits and starts, prospects get real for for full day pre-k covered by the state, we’ll have the latest. And San Antonio goes all in on a plan to let outside organizations run their schools. Also, a fiddle playing son pays tribute to his father and his role in shaping Texas music. All of those stories and then some today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: March 18, 2019

Wallace Hall fought a bitter battle with the University of Texas alleging corrupt admissions policies. Considering new revelations, was he right all along? We’ll have a conversation with the former University of Texas regent about a college admissions process once dubbed affirmative action for the advantaged. Also, when it comes to performance based pay for teachers, do some teachers have a built in advantage over others? And a ruling in a case that could hold gunmakers liable in the wake of mass shootings. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 28, 2019

A key provision of the Texas open meetings act struck down by the state’s highest criminal court. We’ll look at what it means for government transparency. Also, the state’s school librarians read the fine print of a bill to hike teacher salaries, and they’re pushing back. We’ll hear from the state’s top librarian. Plus the timeless voice of tejano superstar Selena. Was it one voice, or two? All those stores and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 20, 2019

Lawsuits mounting over the Texas Secretary of State’s efforts to purge voter rolls of suspected non-citizens, we’ll have the latest. Also, lawmakers promised a focus on education and now, a big push for an across the board pay raise of 5 thousand dollars. So why the muted applause from public school educators? We’ll find out. And Southwest Airlines declares an operational emergency planes, with nearly 200 flights cancelled and little love lost between company chiefs and its mechanics union, we’ll look at details. All those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 8, 2019

The confirmation of a republican Governor Secretary of State nominee: a slam dunk in the republican led Texas senate? Not this time. David Whitley facing an uphill battle to be confirmed as Secretary of State after questioning the citizenship of almost 100 thousand Texas voters, we’ll hear the latest. Also, Senator John Cornyn set for easy re-election in 2020, wanna Bet-o? Cornyn himself not taking any chances after seeing what happened in 2018. All that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: January 31, 2019

First the ranches, then the big cities. Come 2020, is the next great political battleground in the Lone Star State the suburbs? We’ll take a closer look. Also, senator John Cornyn now warning fellow Republicans that President Trump could lose Texas in 2020. Is the Lone Star State no longer reliably red? The answer might be found in the suburbs. And although the Permian basin’s booming, we might be on the road to a new foreign energy dependence, we’ll hear why. All that and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: January 14, 2019

Leaders of both the Texas senate and the house promising to hike teacher salaries so more will stay in the classroom. But how much money is enough? Also, to weather the government shutdown, the state steps in to help people who rely on what used to be known as food stamps. But experts warn of a hidden hit for grocers. We’ll hear about it. Plus a prominent Texas politician pitches his hat into the 2020 presidential race. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 27 2018

Hundreds of asylum seekers released in El Paso with little warning, straining resources and highlighting big issues at the border. We’ll talk with Bob Moore in El Paso about the latest. Also, race and criminal justice: we’ll take look at just how different America’s prison population is from the population at large and why. Plus a Texas lawmaker tells us why he’s fighting for the expansion of medical marijuana. And did you unwrap a new gadget for Christmas or Hanukkah? Our tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us what to do with the old one. Also, the calls for civility in politics and online have come from every corner. But some say it’s not enough. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 10, 2018

The White House Chief of Staff is leaving. The president’s being cagey about the reasons, but there were clear signs this was coming. Earlier this year, NPR’s Texas based correspondent John Burnett landed an exclusive interview with John Kelly, and there were signs of a rupture with his boss even then. Coming up John Burnett joins us to talk about a break long in the making. Also, the Victoria Advocate sues to stop former congressman Blake Farenthold from collecting his paycheck as a lobbyist, we’ll hear why. And the Texas Ag commissioner wants to let farmers grow hemp. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 5, 2018

National day of mourning. We’ll remember a president but also ask: how much pomp and circumstance is appropriate? We’ll take a look. Also, Texas voters re-elected Attorney General Ken Paxton last month. So what’s the latest with the criminal accusations against him? We’ll check in. And for most of us black holes in the universe are a mystery. Even for the experts there’s a lot that they don’t know. But they’re getting closer to answers. Plus fiddle music is part of the fabric of Texas culture, but what kind of fiddle music comes to mind for you? It may be different than your neighbor’s. And a fact-check flagged by Facebook. Did it show up in your newsfeed? All that and then some today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: November 5, 2018

In 2016, Hillary Clinton took the majority of votes in Texas’ 7th Congressional District. Now: what could be a test case for Republican control in Texas. John Culberson is the nine term Republican incumbent in a district that’s trending Democratic. We’ll take a closer look at the dynamics of the district and what it might tell us about the future of Texas politics more broadly. Also, slippery stuff: oil falls to new boomtime lows. And hats off to Roy Hargrove: the Waco born trumpeter once considered jazz music’s brightest promise passes at age 49. All those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

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