Academics
Real Stories
Lessons From Dr. Shock
- Course:
- ENGL 355: Contemporary Drama
- Department:
- English Language & Literature
- Faculty:
- Professor David Paddy
Whittier College hosts a community of nationally and internationally recognized faculty who share their scholarship and teaching with our students.
David Paddy, a professor in the Department of English, is one example of the dedicated and dynamic faculty on Whittier's campus. Named the 2006 California Teacher of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Prof. Paddy believes that learning is a "risky business" and admits his classes can be difficult for those most resistant to altering their perspectives and tinkering with the norm. Ultimately, his goal is to challenge his students - and himself - to bravely dive headfirst into learning and teaching.
"I teach my students that good performance art should shock us out of our passivity and stupid habits," Paddy explains. "And I clearly remember the day I considered this lesson successfully learned. I walked into class and went to write something on the chalkboard as usual. Suddenly, two students jumped out of their chairs and propped themselves on either side of the board. Every time I would try to write something, they would shout, 'Whoop!' and erase what I wrote.
"Realizing I'd need to counter with another strategy, I stepped back and posed the question to the class: 'Either I continue with my plan and ignore these two, or, you figure out what we do next.' Eventually, other members of the class tried to wrest control. And before we knew it, we were in the midst of what has now gone down in Whittier history as the Great Chalkboard War. It was a great example how no one should be a passive learner in class—not even the professor."
