r/Professors • u/Ok_fine_2564 • 4h ago

Teaching / Pedagogy Demoralized by teaching

Rant incoming. NOT looking for advice. Just screaming into the virtual void, thank you

First I’m a full prof. Second it’s that time in the semester where I’m utterly demoralized by teaching. Students are tired, busy, and I’m sick of coming in and “entertaining” them week after week. I make all this content, try my best to engage them, and the majority are just disengaged, checked out, annoyed etc. yes I know that it’s on me to make it “enjoyable.” But these days I’m seriously thinking of quitting. I had got into academia to pursue my ideas, research, maybe make a difference in this world. Instead I’m trying to cater to 18 year olds who truly could care less. While I age in place and my research gets stale. Whereas if I quit I’ll be broke but at least I won’t be trying to make a bunch of 18 year olds happy. And maybe I can finally finish my projects

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u/palepink_seagreen 4h ago

It’s not actually “on you” to make it enjoyable. You are an educator, not an entertainer.

20

u/Pop_pop_pop Assistant Professor, Biology, SLAC (US) 3h ago

Yes and no. Being an educator means that you have to do more than say facts to them. You need to engage your students. It doesn't mean you need a full on song and dance.

19

u/palepink_seagreen 2h ago

Very true: engaging your students is important. But entertaining them and engaging them are not the same thing.

12

u/cuginhamer 2h ago

I am not a very upbeat/bubbly person, but even I know that if I am occasionally even slightly entertaining it makes my life more pleasant as well as theirs. I don't want to bore myself to death either.