The Socratic Method

Matt pointed me to a post at Buffalo Wings & Vodka which almost caused me to bust out laughing in ConLaw today.

A Brief Taxonomy of Classroom Participation

Among my favorites:

The Marvin

I don’t know Marvin. I’ve never met Marvin. And I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t even go by the name Marvin. But I have been told that once, when called on by name, while sitting in his assigned seat, Marvin successfully pretended that he was not, in fact, in class, and that a slightly confuzled professor was then forced to move on to the next student. For that, Marvin, we salute you.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Haven’t Read

Answer the prof’s question with another question. If he fires back with yet another question, it’s on. If not, he loses, and you should tell him so.

Go read the whole thing, but not in class.

Sort of related to law school (but grades), I had a conversation with Ms. Johnson the other night in the bowels of the library in which she referred to being on “The B Boat” … which she affectionately referred to as “The Fun Ship” or the “Booze Cruise”… this, of course, is a vessel which I have gladly boarded and will likely not disembark from until I have a J.D. or a cardboard box outside the Army Reserve recruiter’s office on Kirkwood… so this is the obligatory Holly Johnson shout out. Hey Holly!