Teaching "Loads?"

Frank Bruni’s column in yesterday’s New York Times reminded me of one of the unfortunate aspects of academia. Bruni wrote admiringly of the productivity of Joyce Carol Oates, who manages to publish prolifically despite teaching a full “load” at Princeton.

It’s no secret that many professors prefer working on their scholarship than teaching their students. Still, it’s disheartening that academics and others describe the teaching responsibility of a professor as a “load.” It reminds me of my days as a resident in internal medicine, when we referred to patients newly admitted to our care from the emergency department as “hits” (as in, “I just took another hit”).

Perhaps, professors would feel better about their teaching responsibilities if we started describing them as “opportunities?”

Comments

[VII 15]

I agree in part. The word "load" adds little as far as I can tell except a signal that the loaded party is whining about teaching. But, I think "opportunity" is Newspeak. Why not generally say something bland and specific, such as "She teaches 12 credits and 1000 students." Add whining or cooing separately. Like it or not (and I love it), it's still work.

[Orin Kerr]

It never occurred to me that "teaching load" carries a negative connotation.

[Fritz Allhoff]

First, I can't imagine that a full load at *Princeton* is that onerous. Second, I think the word needn't carry a negative connotation, though, particularly for those of us inured to its usage.

[James Grimmelmann]

You said it best: they're teaching "responsibilities."