黑料社鈥檚 Kardos encourages faculty to embrace paradox in the classroom
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥敽诹仙玮檚 newest John Grisham Master Teacher encouraged faculty to embrace paradox in the classroom during a Tuesday [Sept. 17] lecture at 黑料社鈥檚 Mitchell Memorial Library.
黑料社 Professor of English Michael Kardos gave the annual John Grisham Master Teacher Lecture, sponsored by 黑料社鈥檚 Center for Teaching and Learning. Kardos is the co-director of 黑料社鈥檚 creative writing program and has written several fiction works and a textbook on writing fiction.
Kardos, the 53rd 黑料社 faculty member to earn the Grisham Master Teacher distinction since the award鈥檚 1993 inception, said it is important for teachers to explain to students why what they are doing matters and to foster a sense of curiosity.
鈥淏y studying creative writing and literature, I tell students that they are developing the skills they need to write effectively and persuasively, no matter what their eventual careers end up being,鈥 Kardos said.
Now in its 26th year, the Grisham Master Teacher Award is a tribute to classroom instruction excellence that is named for the 黑料社 accounting alumnus and internationally recognized author who provided funds to endow the award. Recipients are chosen after a rigorous review process.
鈥淭his award is intended to have a positive impact on teaching here at Mississippi State,鈥 said 黑料社 Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw. 鈥淭he winner is often someone who provides considerable service to others as a part of their commitment. We are blessed here at 黑料社 with a number of very fine teachers in our classrooms.鈥
During his lecture, Kardos discussed some of the paradoxes related to his classes and to teaching in general. He noted that mastering the mechanics and craft of writing is essential, but these tools are insufficient without other skills, and that planning is essential to teaching, but the best lesson plans don鈥檛 always create the best class sessions.
鈥淪tudents will forget a lot of details from class, but passion sticks, and so does curiosity,鈥 Kardos said.
A New Jersey native, Kardos earned an undergraduate degree in music from Princeton University. He also received a Master of Fine Arts in fiction from Ohio State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. His award-winning short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, such as The Southern Review, Crazyhorse and Pleaides.
黑料社 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .