At the semester-end party, I jokingly suggested that if students were going to throw away their Land and Bible class notes that they not put them in the donate bins where I might find them and feel bad. The students’ audible reaction was that no one would ever throw away those notes. But I’ve seen it in the past and it happened again yesterday. I skimmed through the notes and was impressed – the handwritten notes in the margins and on the backs of the printed notes were quite detailed and extensive. They were also personal, including random quotes (“Where are my wadis?”, “There should be a fear of Todd”). Which makes me think that during the semester they took the notes because they cared, and not only to pass the test. But when it came to the end, they decided they weren’t worth keeping. And not only for that class, but for all of their classes. Now it’s not true that throwing all of your notes away is the same as deleting the semester from your mind. There are memories. But those fade. I admit that I have many classes in which I took notes that I have not looked at since. But I didn’t throw them away. There’s something at least symbolic about them that keeps me from doing so. That and the recognition that once gone, always gone. And there’s always the “just in case.”
Like many teachers, I suppose, I think my classes are the most important. Whereas a course in chemistry or economics may or may not have relevance to an individual throughout his/her life, a course on the geography of the Bible seems like it would always be useful to anyone who reads the Bible. There are always other sources on the subject besides class notes, but an advantage of class notes is that they are organized in the way that you learned the subject. And they are personal. Taking notes is a lot of work. If I knew that I didn’t care or wouldn’t need them, I sure wouldn’t put out the effort.
Todd – I still look at my notes often, sometimes every week. My maps too. The back of my bedroom door has a huge map of Israel and my notes are in a special shelf right beside it. I treasure them. Thanks for both the notes, knowledge and memories!
Rachel Israel
You don’t have to worry about me throwing away my notes, Todd. I’m a natural born packrat!
I’m looking forward to attending IBEX in Spring ’06.
Todd, I wouldn’t dream of throwing away my Land and Bible notes!! Ever. There are few things in this world to which I would cling so adamantly, but my notes from IBEX are invaluable.
Thank you for investing your life in your students. I miss being there already. But God is gracious to have allowed me to come at all!
Todd… This is my favorite line of the day… “Whereas a course in chemistry or economics may or may not have relevance to an individual throughout his/her life, a course on the geography of the Bible seems like it would always be useful to anyone who reads the Bible.” Can I just say AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN to that? I just finished taking Biology and Economics this semester, and I couldn’t be in agreement more! Hence, all IBEX notes will, Lord willing, be in my possession always! =)
I pray that you’ll have a refreshing time full of God’s grace this Christmas break!
-Jodi
Todd:
As a former Theology professor at a prominent evangelical university, I know EXACTLY how you feel.
P.S. I really enjoy your blog. I am have been lurking for a while.
Well, I didn’t take any of your classes while I was in Israel, but I can assure you that I have saved all my notes from all my classes since my sophomore year of college. I even saved my economics notes (which I have found helpful because of the personal finance section Dr Mackey does).
Ruth
Todd, throwing away my IBEX notes would be like throwing away part of my identity. My SMM will be cherished always, my famous field study reports among my personal treasures, and my class and field trip notes stored safely. As a graduate student I value knowledge and as a future teacher I value knowledge recorded on paper, as my mind certainly does not retain all that I would want it to!
Ibexers for reals – if it weren’t for Land and the Bible – with Todd, I wouldn’t have easily slided and glided in Historical Geography of Jerusalem from Hebrew University (at the graduate level) and receive an A+.
I even used my SMM to give my sister her own personal tour of Israel.
For future reference, keep your notes, you may never know when you just might need them.