The Balanced Scale

By: Reem Nafie
Adjunct Professor, Journalism and Mass Communication Department 

There is no doubt that teaching is a sacred and noble mission. Those who fail to acknowledge this fact have failed to understand the importance of this job. Parents entrust teachers to not only educate their children about specific disciplines, but also about morals, values, ethics and life in general. What you learn from a good teacher lasts a lifetime.

Since I started teaching at AUC, I have treated every single student as my own child. I have tried to give them knowledge (to the best of my ability), to open their eyes to the real world that awaits them after graduation and make them feel more confident about their own abilities. But to be honest, all this comes second to what I feel is the most important thing I give to my students (or at least I try to). I give them a friend who is there for them forever, even after their course ends.

I have realized that they feel more comfortable when they have a relationship with their teacher, they’re more receptive to critique, eager to talk even if they’re shy and overall the learning experience is just FUN.

How do I pull this off while teaching journalism? Through engagement!

I get to know students on an individual basis, their differences, their strengths, their weaknesses, what they like, what they don’t.

Each class starts with a discussion about life. Students teach me something about “mahraganat” (Street music) and I tell them something about Um Kalthoum. We joke about it and then start our lecture.

When someone’s sad or down, I find out why, and the class could end up to be a group therapy session. They’re happy they let out the negativity, I’m happy I could help and somehow by the end of the semester we’re all buddies.

But that was before Corona and distance learning of course. This term started over a Zoom lecture, with voice breaking up because of poor Internet and 30 students introducing themselves to a blank computer screen.

My former students are sending me emails saying they’re “lost” and “feel overwhelmed”, while my current students are “suffering from poor internet connection” and either leave class in the middle or can’t attend. The eagerness to learn is lost and those who have early classes struggle to wake up. They lazily sit in bed and depend on listening to recorded Zoom sessions later.

“Do you want to return to campus?” my students asked me. “Yes,” I answered.

“Then tell them to allow us back,” they said.

Ok. So this is the deal.

Some students think it’s easier for us to do our jobs from home, and I have explained to them that most of us do triple the work to prepare lectures beforehand.

Professors get more questions and emails, and have to reexplain because of the lack of human contact. Many departments were tirelessly working throughout the summer to ensure the Fall semester started as smoothly as possible. So, distance learning is definitely not “less work” for anyone.

We are definitely experiencing difficult times and the foremost concern must be the safety of the AUC society as a whole.

I miss being on campus and lecturing humans rather than names on a grid. As a mother, I know that not everyone can comprehend while listening to a monotonous lecture, no matter how hard the professor tries to make it interesting. And yes, Internet connections are an issue for all of us. I also understand that students were looking forward to a different experience when they entered university, especially freshmen who want to live the notorious “AUC life”.

I urge management to consider returning classes to campus, while maintaining social distance and ensuring safety measures.

On the other hand, students must know that they are also responsible for keeping their community safe and that won’t be possible if they continue to attend large gatherings that put everyone at risk. Unfortunately, we are at a crossroad, where every individual’s actions affect not only themselves, but a numerous number of those who have engaged with him or her.

I’m imagining a balance scale, with education on one side and a health risk on the other, and a choice has to be made. As an educator, friend and mother, I don’t have the answer. I don’t know what the right thing to do is, and like every one of you I’m just sitting here hoping for the best for everyone.