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Dr. Pierson's Office Hours

Perhaps foolishly, Methos made his way through the thickening snow to attend his office hours.

Coffee is appreciated.

She comes in with the remnants of her mocha and leans against the doorjamb.

"Busy, Adam?"

"I cultivate an appearance of business so that no one will interupt me. Which is to say, no, not at all, please come in." Methos kicks back and smiles at her. Lazily.

Stepping inside, she sets her cup on his desk and flops down in a chair.

"You should thank me, you know. You I spared from the horror of me this past me."

"Now, actually, I think that's a shame. Because wee!Ten was as cute as a button, and I can't imagine you were anything less than... to use his term, a fox."

"Oh, I can't imagine he called me that. Between the sugar and the hyper and the crushing depression...not a stellar week. I think I drove his teen-boy brain completely crazy." She leans forward with a sly grin, "But I did take pictures if you want to see what you missed."

He grins back. "I would be delighted to see them. So, returning to your teenage years wasn't entirely a John Hughes movie?"

"Oh, yeah...it was. Minus the decent dialogue, funny characters, and anyone selling the chance to look at my underpants in the boys room."

Methos looks intrigued by the idea of underpants. "I was wondering if I could ask you something."

"Sure. Ask away."

"This is in your professional capacity, mind you. I fear that my lectures end up too dry for my students. The last time I lectured... well, let's put it this way. Back in those days, Oxford dons were not allowed to get married. Lectures were *supposed* to be dry. But I'd like to engage the students a bit more. Any tips?"

"You...lecture?"

She looks incredulous, and finishes her coffee.

"Have you thought of...um...not? Give the students the topic and turn them loose, have them present their findings. Make them teach each other. Or music helps. Or...you could always just drink a beer before class." she nods, but really hopes he knows she's just kidding about that last point.

In turn, Methos looks startled. "Actually... no, I've never thought of that. I mean, that's what the discussion section is for. I can't really just hand it over to the class and say, 'Okay, tell me the ramifications of Simon de Montfort's rebellion against the king's authority in 1265'. It seems a bit unfair to make them research the topics when it's my job to teach them. Some of them are having a hard enough time because I forgot to mention that 'Britain' and 'England' are functionally the same. I have to give them data. But I fear that I'm drowning them in information."

"Can you just hit the high points and then turn them loose? Let them know the essential information and see what they feel is important to discuss? I mean, you said you lived it so what you thought was important isn't what others find interesting. These are smart kids, Adam. Try it for a week, if it doens't work, hey...so they don't know about the Porridge Rebellion of 1430. So what?"

"Define high points. Define essential information. I know they're smart kids, but a lot of them don't have the referance points for this. And it's my job to make sure they understand about the Porridge Rebellion of 1430, or, at least, why we still give a damn today." Methos sighed. "Okay. Thanks for your insight. I just think I have a responsibility to give them the information."

"See the problem with a lecture is just that. Giving them information. Without them actually doing something with that information I can pretty much promise they'll miss the 'give a damn' portion of your point."

She shrugs and kisses him lightly on the cheek.

"Don't be that guy, Adam. Don't be the dry teacher. They loved you in the library...why? Because you were interesting. I like how you explain things to me. How your eyes light up. You'll find it...don't worry about it."

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Dr. Pierson's Office Hours

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