Override The Lazy Boy ® by Dr. Michael J. Lenaghan
Empowering scholars at America’s largest, most diverse
and most internationally representative institution of higher learning
contributes to the feeling that everyday can be life changing, community
changing and Earth changing. And it also facilitates a full range of scholar
innovations, shortcuts and occasional deceits.
A scholar of mine who had performed at an exceptional
level in other peoples’ courses, insisted that he had to be in my Fall semester
Federal Government course. The course had been full since late summer. However,
Ronald insisted he would get in the course anyway he could manage to do it. He
was never available to come in and talk about the matter, perhaps get my advice
on another professor equal to or better than me for what he wanted to
accomplish by knowing more about how our national government worked.
I had to explain to Ronald that classrooms were
limited by physical dimensions and the ability to accommodate only so many
desks. I found it odd that his contentions were solely his, not endorsed or
advocated by other staff or service staffs that sometimes get involved. But I
was patient because for whatever reason he thought I could add value to his
learning and mastery journey. I explained that sometimes classes lose a member
– unpaid tuition or conflicting work schedules – and maybe he could be a last
minute addition within a very limited seat apportioned classroom. He assured me
he would be in class the first day.
Meanwhile, I explored squeezing in an extra seat to
the classroom which appeared to be impossible that semester. In desperation, I
called Ronald and informed him that unless he brought his own seat and desk,
the class was totally filled with the apportioned seats being fully assigned.
Always pleasant, positive and yet assertive, Ronald informed me that he had his
textbook and I would see him in a few days.
On the first day of class in that Fall semester in my
Federal Government course, the classroom was full. I commenced
self-introductions – when the classroom door opened and an individual entered
and inquired if this was “Federal Government POS 2041 and was this taught by
Dr. Lenaghan?” I responded that this was the class and I was the professor of
record, rather formally. And the inquirer announced: “This is your last scholar
for the class and he has brought his own seat and desk!”
Rolling into class in an electric wheelchair with a
laid back carriage to accommodate his being paraplegic, Ronald entered with a
smile, parked in a complementary manner and started to introduce himself. “I am
Ronald and here to testify that this professor keeps his word. He said if I
brought my own chair and desk, I could override into this filled to capacity
class. Here I am. Me and my Lazy Boy (his chair not his personality) are ready
to engage among my fellow scholars. Thanks for being a welcoming community of
scholars.”
In that electric set of minutes, a wonderful array of
dynamics activated across the room and among those present. Obviously, I was
enthused and elated. My other scholars suddenly realized that if Ronald could
make success happen here, everyone else ought to be able to advance. And I
learned another lesson in empathy, humility and innovative inclusion: be open
to the possibilities among scholars of a wide variety of abilities. None to be
dismissed.
2014
© Michael J. Lenaghan
