Chapter 1: Apocalyptic Teaching: Facing Our Fears and Teaching Through Tears

I judge my success as a university professor by the number of students who cry in my office—the more tears, the more effective my teaching, and these days, I’m at the top of my game.

While that may sound a bit harsh, I don’t try to provoke crying by being mean, and I don’t believe I have ever been abusive to students (on a bad day I may get a bit cranky, but in general I’m a reasonably friendly fellow). In my courses I want to create space in which people can engage crucial questions about social justice and ecological sustainability, and then feel the grief that is common—perhaps inevitable—if we honestly face the harsh reality of our world.