NationStates Jolt Archive

Dr. Daly teaches at the Warren County Community College (WCCC) in Washington, New Jersey. Recently, a student of his sent an email and received a response (http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47461) that got quite a bit of attention. The interesting part of the reply was his estimate of how we would achieve freedom. He said, "Real freedom will come when soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors." That's fine, there' room for all types in college. In fact, I find watching liberals make fools of themselves is better entertainment than dollar movies.

What I thought was really a crime, though, was his teaching philosophy. From his bio (http://www.warren.cc.nj.us/portal/home/page.asp?iData=376&iCat=297&iChannel=23&nChannel=Faculty%20Staff) on the WCCC website, we read :

Often linguists do not use their skills to teach grammar and writing, but Professor Daly finds that linguists have a special view on language that may help students—particularly students who have had trouble in these areas in the past. English courses generally are taught from a rule-based perspective. Students become overwhelmed with these rules and often find the exceptions make them impossible to manage. Linguistics [sic] view language from a descriptive point of view—that is they understand language in the same way you might organize a sock draw [sic] — by dumping the contents on the ground and seeing what goes together until finally ending up with a super-efficient drawer (or deeper understand [sic] of grammar and writing). Students often respond to this approach.


It took several reads to figure out that he's saying that 'English is hard, if you take my classes, you won't have to follow any rules'. Fortunately, Dr Daly resigned from WCCC, rather than justify his incompetence to the Board of Regents.

It's a community college... what the hell do you expect?

It took several reads to figure out that he's saying that 'English is hard, if you take my classes, you won't have to follow any rules'.
I don't think that's what he's saying. He seems to be saying that as people already know English to some degree, you shouldn't teach it like a foreign language, but from the perspective of linguistics. I'm not sure this really makes sense - although an understanding of linguistics certainly increases your appreciation of language, I don't think that's the best way of learning a language - it would be like teaching children to add and multiply by using the Peano axioms rather than loads of little counters.

Ahh yes... The coveted "super-efficient sock drawer", whereby one can reach in and pick out a pair of... socks. Brilliant.

The main reason that English is consdidered a very hard language to learn is because any given grammatical rule has a large number of exceptions: the other Germanic languages are R&B, but English is free jazz.
He might be alluding to that. Then again, he might just be blathering nonsense: it's hard to tell.

The main reason that English is consdidered a very hard language to learn is because any given grammatical rule has a large number of exceptions: the other Germanic languages are R&B, but English is free jazz.
He might be alluding to that. Then again, he might just be blathering nonsense: it's hard to tell.

Still, English Language = Sock Drawer?

:confused:

You mean the American education system is less than inspiring?

Indeed.

Let's spend millions on standardized tests instead of actually spending money on better and more highly trained instructors.

In fact, I find watching liberals make fools of themselves is better entertainment than dollar movies.
Likewise buddy.

Still, English Language = Sock Drawer?

:confused:
This is why I have no idea whether he's using an odd metaphor to refer to English's non linear nature, or just throwing some sort of fit.

This is why I have no idea whether he's using an odd metaphor to refer to English's non linear nature, or just throwing some sort of fit.

It must be a crazy liberal thing. :p

It must be a crazy liberal thing. :p
Emphasis on "crazy" not "liberal", hopefully...

Press release from Warren Community College

http://www.warren.cc.nj.us/

WTF is an adjunct instructor? Certainly not a professor as World Net Daily claims.

Press release from Warren Community College

http://www.warren.cc.nj.us/

WTF is an adjunct instructor? Certainly not a professor as World Net Daily claims.
I don't know quite what it is in the context of community college. Generally, you can teach with a Master's, or some relevant work experience at a CC. I was an adjunct professor at Georgia Tech and all that meant was that I was a contract professor. The tenure-track positions are associate profs at Tech. They might have different nomenclature at different universities.

Press release from Warren Community College

http://www.warren.cc.nj.us/

WTF is an adjunct instructor? Certainly not a professor as World Net Daily claims.
If it is anything like a real collage an adjunct faculty is a professor that has usualy not achived a doctorate therefore can not atain a position of tenure

Its usualy (in the case of collages ... this is a community collage so I dont know for sure) is a position people take in order to get in the field while working on their doctorate

So it could be a professor ... just not one elagable for tenure (think of it as a probationary position as well as a training one)

I don't know quite what it is in the context of community college. Generally, you can teach with a Master's, or some relevant work experience at a CC. I was an adjunct professor at Georgia Tech and all that meant was that I was a contract professor. The tenure-track positions are associate profs at Tech. They might have different nomenclature at different universities.
I see we try to discribe the same thing :p

I am an adjunct this coming simester at the university I work at ... it should be intresting

I see we try to discribe the same thing :p

I am an adjunct this coming simester at the university I work at ... it should be intresting
I guarantee that you will find it interesting. I found that I couldn't wait for the contract to end, so that I could get away from teaching. That was actually a good end for me, as it lead to a research position with the research lab that's affiliated with Georgia Tech.

Good luck and have fun!

I guarantee that you will find it interesting. I found that I couldn't wait for the contract to end, so that I could get away from teaching. That was actually a good end for me, as it lead to a research position with the research lab that's affiliated with Georgia Tech.

Good luck and have fun!
I will :) though I taught two classes this simester in an unofficial capacity (I was already working for the univ in a tech support function (still am) so it was not too much of a streach here to pick up a class or two in my old department)

Dr. Daly teaches at the Warren County Community College (WCCC) in Washington, New Jersey. Recently, a student of his sent an email and received a response (http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47461) that got quite a bit of attention. The interesting part of the reply was his estimate of how we would achieve freedom. He said, "Real freedom will come when soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors." That's fine, there' room for all types in college. In fact, I find watching liberals make fools of themselves is better entertainment than dollar movies.

What I thought was really a crime, though, was his teaching philosophy. From his bio (http://www.warren.cc.nj.us/portal/home/page.asp?iData=376&iCat=297&iChannel=23&nChannel=Faculty%20Staff) on the WCCC website, we read :


It took several reads to figure out that he's saying that 'English is hard, if you take my classes, you won't have to follow any rules'. Fortunately, Dr Daly resigned from WCCC, rather than justify his incompetence to the Board of Regents.


This is a nice McCarthy witchhunt.

Nothing you said suggested this man was not competent to teach philosophy as a mere adjunct instructor at a minor Community College.

But that won't stop you or Fox News from continuing the progrom.

This is a nice McCarthy witchhunt.

Nothing you said suggested this man was not competent to teach philosophy as a mere adjunct instructor at a minor Community College.

But that won't stop you or Fox News from continuing the progrom.
You're right. Poor spelling and lousy grammar should never stop anyone from teaching English. A disregard of grammar and spelling is especially important if that instructor is teaching basic writing and developmental reading.

You can read my post again. I think you're having some difficulty with the English language tonight.

Dr. Daly teaches at the Warren County Community College (WCCC) in Washington, New Jersey. Recently, a student of his sent an email and received a response (http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47461) that got quite a bit of attention. The interesting part of the reply was his estimate of how we would achieve freedom. He said, "Real freedom will come when soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors." That's fine, there' room for all types in college. In fact, I find watching liberals make fools of themselves is better entertainment than dollar movies.

What I thought was really a crime, though, was his teaching philosophy. From his bio (http://www.warren.cc.nj.us/portal/home/page.asp?iData=376&iCat=297&iChannel=23&nChannel=Faculty%20Staff) on the WCCC website, we read :


It took several reads to figure out that he's saying that 'English is hard, if you take my classes, you won't have to follow any rules'. Fortunately, Dr Daly resigned from WCCC, rather than justify his incompetence to the Board of Regents.


I've noticed a direct connection between people who teach linguistics, and idiocy.

PROFESSOR: "I'm a linguist! I formulate the rules by which we all communicate."

STUDENT: "Oh, a bullshit artist!"

So this isn't about John Daly, the former mediocre BBC Northern Ireland chatshow host?

I'm so very dissapointed.

So this isn't about John Daly, the former mediocre BBC Northern Ireland chatshow host?

I'm so very dissapointed.
Sorry. It's not about the PGA Tour professional, either.

Please, I can understand why conservatives might want to foist their version of truth on us all, but there really is no good reason to bring conservativism into language. Languages change and trying to stop them is pointless. Yes, some of the changes can sound really tacky to many, but it's just part of the nature of languages to evolve. What we regard is proper today would have struck consies in the past as horrifyingly degraded.

Just out of curiosity, what on Earth are you complaining about? The overly wordy and bizarre allegory used is a good way to teach writing. In that many students freak out so much about how to be grammatically correct that they lose all sight of content; the idea being to develop their writing skills by focusing on content, THEN going back and showing how to use grammar (and when to ignore it) to give the piece more impact and presence.

Especially as most high school English classes (advanced or otherwise) tend to teach more about how to make the perfect hamburger paragraph paper without saying anything!

I admit that the sock allegory really is weird though, and not how I would have explained it.

Just out of curiosity, what on Earth are you complaining about? The overly wordy and bizarre allegory used is a good way to teach writing. In that many students freak out so much about how to be grammatically correct that they lose all sight of content; the idea being to develop their writing skills by focusing on content, THEN going back and showing how to use grammar (and when to ignore it) to give the piece more impact and presence.

Especially as most high school English classes (advanced or otherwise) tend to teach more about how to make the perfect hamburger paragraph paper without saying anything!

I admit that the sock allegory really is weird though, and not how I would have explained it.
There's two things that bother me about the teacher. First, an English teacher should be able to spell. See all those [sic] annotations in the bio? Second, a teacher that teaches basic writing and developmental reading is not teaching to an audience that should ignore spelling and grammar rules. Those are the students that shouldn't write anything until they can write grammatically correct sentences.

And, by the way, it was a 'sock draw', not a sock drawer.

FUCK, this is pathetic. You have all been debating whether or not his teaching style is sound, and I haven't read ONE WORD in any post about how he suggests that our soldiers should assassinate their superior officers.

Or maybe this just isn't as important to you all as whether or not to punctuate properly?

This forum never fails to offend me. :headbang:

FUCK, this is pathetic. You have all been debating whether or not his teaching style is sound, and I haven't read ONE WORD in any post about how he suggests that our soldiers should assassinate their superior officers.

Or maybe this just isn't as important to you all as whether or not to punctuate properly?

This forum never fails to offend me. :headbang:

Why are you still here then?

Why are you still here then?
Because there are still a few people on here who don't have their heads up their asses, and I'd feel bad abandoning them.

It took several reads to figure out that he's saying that 'English is hard, if you take my classes, you won't have to follow any rules'.

He is saying that english is often taught as a series of rules to be followed without justification for the rules. What he tries to do is give the reasons for our language and start with the justification for the rules. He believes that if the students understand the necessity of the rules, they will better understand the rules.

And not to sound like DHomme, but we would all find freedom if we all turned guns on our superiors.

And not to sound like DHomme, but we would all find freedom if we all turned guns on our superiors.

Then someone else would be put in charge, and that freedom would be lost in an instant. Or someone with more will to use their gun would take your freedoms.

Not a viable solution.

FUCK, this is pathetic. You have all been debating whether or not his teaching style is sound, and I haven't read ONE WORD in any post about how he suggests that our soldiers should assassinate their superior officers.

He is stating that we should all defend ourselves from those who would call themselves our superiors, not kill them.

Then someone else would be put in charge, and that freedom would be lost in an instant. Or someone with more will to use their gun would take your freedoms.

Not a viable solution.

No, you continue to fight all of those who would claim to be a superior until none are left.

No, you continue to fight all of those who would claim to be a superior until none are left.
Then I sould be the superior, and everyone left would be my thrall.

Then I sould be the superior, and everyone left would be my thrall.

And then everyone else would turn their guns upon you.

And then everyone else would turn their guns upon you.
Not likely. Mere possession of weapons does not imply the will or ability to use them.

And people will find that organizing into groups and submitting to the authority of a few will enable them to massacre the others who remain as individuals.

Not likely. Mere possession of weapons does not imply the will or ability to use them.

And people will find that organizing into groups and submitting to the authority of a few will enable them to massacre the others who remain as individuals.

Human fallibility doesn't deny the argument, it just means that people are unlikely to ever truly be free.

Human fallibility doesn't deny the argument, it just means that people are unlikely to ever truly be free.

Some are free regardless. Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four.

Some are free regardless. Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four.

Freedom is the ability to say two plus two equals whatever the hell you want it to equal.

FUCK, this is pathetic. You have all been debating whether or not his teaching style is sound, and I haven't read ONE WORD in any post about how he suggests that our soldiers should assassinate their superior officers.

Or maybe this just isn't as important to you all as whether or not to punctuate properly?

This forum never fails to offend me. :headbang:

Everyone knows the revolution is coming. It is not very interesting anymore. But I have to agree; punctuation is overrated.

Everyone knows the revolution is coming. It is not very interesting anymore. But I have to agree; punctuation is overrated.

DOWN WITH THE VOWEL BOURGEOISIE!!!

VIVE LES GRAMMAR REVOLUCION!!

Isn't John Daly a fat, smoking, Diet-Coke drinking, guitar playing proffessional golfer from Arkansas?