Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tutor/Psychoanalyist
The tutor as a psychoanalyst? I think that there is too much importance being placed on the tutor in this reading. I understand how the connection can be made between psychoanalyst and tutor, but I can't see how they are so comparable on such a large scale. Sure, students or "clients" are vulnerable when dealing with their writing, and in that case yes, the tutor psychoanalyses. but to me, the reality of the writing room is that the people who most often use it are those who aren't aren't too concerned with their writing as emotioinal expression. I don't mean to insinuate that the writing room is only used by remedial students, or by those who suck at writing, but I am saying that I don't think tutors need to be so concerned with the 'delicate writers' psyche'. Its hard for me to imagine a student as "hurt" as Murphy describes coming into USI's writing room looking for a non-judgemental tutor to nurture their writing. I can see semi-pychoanalyzing a student's work to help them clarify what they're trying to get across, but most of this essay sounds like the tutor is babying the client. Is it just me?
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I don't think it's just you. I have a problem with how Murphy easily equates "tutors" with therapists and "students" with clients. (So sorry you had to miss today - we had a lot of fun shredding the Murphy piece!)
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do want to stress, though, is that, when you get around Murphy's psychobabble, she does make a valid point that students need to be treated as people. We can't only deal with papers in the writing center; the interpersonal dynamics of how tutors/students work together, as people, is also important.
Janon! I felt the same way you did. Exactly the same way. I think it's really intimidating to think that we actually handle their entire self-worth in our hands.
ReplyDeleteMurphy is in a dream world if she honestly thinks that every student is some wounded gazelle just begging for us to save him or her from the lions (aka their professors). We also aren't paid nearly enough to deal with their personal issues, haha.
I hope you're not trying to say that there needs to be guidelines as to how far the tutor can go in terms of an interpersonal relationship with the client. It may seem nice to have something to fall back on, but in some cases it might be better for the tutor to relate to the client on a more personal level to develop their train of thought. We don't want any robots repeating the same thing over and over, especially in a writing center, and by trying to limit the reach of the conversation with the client tutoring sessions will be less informal, and therefore less helpful. Just don't bring BFF bracelets to the tutoring sessions.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there may have been a little to much attention given to the psyche of the tutor. I do feel that it is fairly valid though. In these beginning stages of tutor-training we are realizing that we have an entirely different role from the teacher. In a way, we are there to "nurture" the writing process - or at least guide it.
ReplyDeleteI think that Murphy's writing on the psychoanalytic dynamic of writing centers is best applied when you are receiving repeated visits from an individual client. This allows you to establish a professional, though personal and friendly, relationship.
I understand what you say that consultants shouldn't "baby" clients. But we must remember that these consultants are university students. We are university students. We, though take the title of "consultant," are really on the same level at them. This will make the transition into the Writers' Room and into consulting easier with less tension or nervousness. As students, many of us enjoy working with friends, often asking him/her before asking a teacher. It is this friendly, informal relationship that will help "baby" students to feeling comfortable and welcoming in the Writers' Room.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. We can't psychoanalyze. Hell, I don't even know what that means really. But we must remember that the birth of writing lies within the writer. And sometimes, well, having a good delivery is what students need. Many students struggle in putting their thoughts on paper or just getting started. It is here where we "psychoanalyze," where we can ask questions, make points, and, in a way, guide the student to where he is wanting to go.