Happy Advent, by Prof. Lucas J. Mather, APU Political Science Department And why do you think this group of philosophers are called The Pre-Socratics, the professor asked, holding up an Oxford University Press book by the same title. A girl raised her hand straight up, and said, because they came before Socrates. Okay, the professor… Read more »
By Lucas Mather After quizzes, at the beginning of class, I say, “I’ll probably just let you guys go after this. I mean, after the quiz. You’ll have done enough by then.” Really? Well, yeah. Look, there’s three options. I could let you go before this, in which case you’d be gone already. I could… Read more »
A Socratic Dialogue on Break Time, by Professor Mather Professor, Trump is a *nationalist*. Hitler was a *nationalist.* Lincoln was a nationalist, the professor said, as he sat back, picking apple fragments from his teeth, taking a sip of coffee. —[It was quiet a long time]— But Trump is a white nationalist, another student finally… Read more »
A Dialogue From 2013, by Lucas J. Mather Student: “But then, who are you to judge?” Prof [um, that would be me in this scenario]: “By asking who I am, do you mean, what is my name? You already forgot?” Student: “No, I mean … who are you to judge. You know.” Me: “Who am… Read more »
By Lucas J. Mather Someone said to me they were so encouraged that Georgia seems to be going blue, which she thought was impossible since it was “historically Republican.” I had to hold back laughing out loud. Or even smirking because clearly she was processing some feelings and I think it’s important to let people… Read more »
It’s Yourself, By Lucas J. Mather The way the sun hits the California Live Oaks off the 101 between the 405 and the 23 North, morning, noon or dusk — and I’ve seen them all those times, like a black man’s hand coming out of the ground, a Chernobyl hand, too many fingers spread every… Read more »
By Lucas J. Mather Professor, can I talk with you for a minute? Sure, man. I mean…woman. Sure, woman ! Hahaha. [Nervous], I just really need to know–you seemed to support Brett Kavanaugh. I’m just really curious why. Yes, ma’am, well why wouldn’t I? And the student said, because it looks like he sexually assaulted… Read more »
On “Dismantling Hate” By Lucas J. Mather, TRP A recent happening. The professor held up a flyer of someone climbing up to take down a Confederate flag. The title of the event was, “Dismantling Hate.” The professor looked out to the crowd of students and asked a question : How many of you love hatred?… Read more »
A Dialogue Getting Clear On The Question By Lucas J. Mather But who’s to say, professor? The professor stopped and wheeled around, looking over his glasses at the student, and said, huh? Who’s to say that’s what’s right?, the student continued. The professor slowly brought the marker to the cap, and popped that sucker on… Read more »
Pay attention, Daniel-san By Lucas J. Mather The student said, I ordered them off of this website that… Ordered them “on” the website. You were on the website, not “off” of the website. You could also say “from” the website, the professor said. The LA faces melted like the Nazis in the Raiders of the… Read more »