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!Escaping the labyrinth
It is November 12, 2020.
It is near the end of the semester. A LOOONNNGGGG pandemic Zoom quarantine semester that crescendoed to a presidential election.
You need a break.
Here you go: enjoy this quiet autumnal scene from Germany. Feel the crisp air on your nose.
When ready, scroll down and read the question.
<figure><a title="Original: Dietmar Rabich (Derivative work: Sting) / Wikimedia Commons / “Dülmen, Wildpark -- 2014 -- 3808 color balanced” / CC BY-SA 4.0" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:D%C3%BClmen,_Wildpark_--_2014_--_3808_color_balanced.jpg"><img width="1024" alt="Dülmen, Wildpark -- 2014 -- 3808 color balanced" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/D%C3%BClmen%2C_Wildpark_--_2014_--_3808_color_balanced.jpg/1024px-D%C3%BClmen%2C_Wildpark_--_2014_--_3808_color_balanced.jpg"></a><figcaption>Autumnal scene in Germany.</figcaption></figure>
So, how are you feeling about 2020?
* I'm [[TOTALLY ECSTATIC->ecstatic]] about everything!
* Yeah, okay, things are [[PRETTY COOL->cool]].
* Dios mío, [[PLEASE MAKE IT STOP|not good]].
Make your choice by ''clicking on one of the bluish-colored links'' above. OMG you're a truly magnificent human! (Or you're lying to yourself.)
<figure><a title="Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HappyTexas1_(1_of_1).jpg"><img width="512" alt="HappyTexas1 (1 of 1)" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/HappyTexas1_%281_of_1%29.jpg/512px-HappyTexas1_%281_of_1%29.jpg"></a><figcaption>If you were a town in Texas, this would be you! It's HAPPY, TEXAS</figcaption></figure>
At any rate, congratulations on thriving amid the mayhem. You have lessons to teach us all.
[[Continue]]Congratulations to you for staying on an even keel, despite everything.
<figure><a title="Colcholl, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TX_21_at_FM_247_Midway_Cfiles21678.jpg"><img width="512" alt="TX 21 at FM 247 Midway Cfiles21678" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/TX_21_at_FM_247_Midway_Cfiles21678.jpg/512px-TX_21_at_FM_247_Midway_Cfiles21678.jpg"></a><figcaption>If you were a town in Texas, you would be MIDWAY, TEXAS.</figcaption></figure>
You should take a minute to reflect on the good work you've done to get to this point.
[[Continue]]Well, it happens to the best of us. My sympathy.
<figure><a title="Nicolas Henderson from Coppell, Texas, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Signs_(22017676358).jpg"><img width="512" alt="Signs (22017676358)" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Signs_%2822017676358%29.jpg/512px-Signs_%2822017676358%29.jpg"></a><figcaption>If you were a town in Texas, you would be BLESSING, TEXAS</figcaption></figure>
At any rate, keep focused on why you became a teacher -- summers off :)
[[Continue]]Welp, regardless, the grading continues.
<figure><a title="Jmcstrav at English Wikipedia (Original text: John McStravick), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paulaner.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Paulaner" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Paulaner.jpg"></a><figcaption>Teacher's little helper</figcaption></figure>
Using Canvas SpeedGrader, you have just clicked over to grade the 17th paper of the evening.
A quick glance at this student paper reveals:
* no heading 🙁
* a title 😊, but the title is “Final Essay” 🤮
* no page numbers or paragraph breaks 😠
In short, there is not even a HINT of college-level formatting. NOT EVEN A HINT!
Uh, $#$^ %$#^ %^&% [[ARGGHHHHHH]]As you confront this ineptly-formatted paper, which statement do you agree with more?
Be real.
* A) Teaching is REPETITIVE WORK that can be done by a COMPUTER, or maybe even a MONKEY
* B) Teaching requires a REAL HUMAN TOUCH and INDIVIDUALIZED FEEDBACK for each UNIQUE and SPECIAL STUDENT
Now go to <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekETK6tlkYYF4GNmaZzpZzsFYy_ksrBEBJHQ8__BycgBTZMg/viewform?usp=sf_link" target="new">this Google poll</a>, and make your choice. One or the other. A OR B.
!CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE ESCAPED THE LABYRINTH!
Now, this assignment is the LAST ESSAY of the semester, the CAPSTONE of the course.
Wait, calm down, here's a puppy:
<figure><a title="dbking, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._Bernard_puppy.jpg"><img width="512" alt="St. Bernard puppy" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/St._Bernard_puppy.jpg/512px-St._Bernard_puppy.jpg"></a><figcaption>St. Bernard puppy in autumn leaves</figcaption></figure>
Ok, problem is, you have threatened students with FAILING if they don't have proper formatting.
And now this paper.
Oh boy oh boy oh boy
What to do...
It's [[DECISION TIME->reflect]]