> Explaining the rules of professional interaction is not an act of condescension; it’s the first step in treating students like adults. If you have to spend s

> Explaining the rules of professional interaction is not an act of condescension; it’s the first step in treating students like adults. If you have to spend several paragraphs explaining how something isn't an act of condescension, you may have just spent several paragraphs apologizing for committing acts of condescension. I suppose this article makes me crabby because it's written solely with the needs/wants of the professor in mind. The author initially wanted to be the "cool" teacher. It's a teacher's "job to correct sloppy prose". Formality helps defend the university's values "at a time when they are under continual assault." A professor has to "establish that I belong here" because "I'm the first and only black teacher they've every had." How about the students? What's the most effective way to get them collaborating with each other and thinking critically about the material to which you've introduced them? Especially given that lectures have been shown to be one of the least effective means of teaching? You do remember the students, right? Those people taking on burdensome debt in a desperate hope to gain permanent employment long after taking your class? I'd say if "cutie_pie_98@hotmail.com" finds it worthwhile to send you a question over email, you should put in the maximum possible effort your professorial brain can muster to write helpful and meaningful response. If you really think that response starts with, "it's time to retire that address," at least consider that your priorities are so out of whack that it may be time to for u to retire ur address.