Journal Post #9 - August 2, 2015

Today my wife and I took our son to see the new Pixar movie Inside Out. For anyone not familiar with the basic premise, it entertainingly depicts the emotional processes of an eleven-year-old girl who moves from Minnesota to San Francisco with her family. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust were all entertaining cartoon characters who collaborated in helping the girl, Riley, navigate her complex emotional landscape in the middle of a stressful time of big changes.

I do not wish to spoil the film for anybody. But as a teacher researcher I will say that this film entertainingly reminded me of the necessity of emotions that are not happiness. The others are all vital, and sadness is capable of saving the day.

Also, I had previously volunteered to work for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. Today was my day to serve. I was given a list of 25 phone numbers. My task was to invite them all to a national conference call taking place in two days, and to solicit more donations and/or volunteers for the campaign.

I was provided a script, but for those who picked up when I called, the script did not provide for the myriad unpredictable responses I might get to my questions. I was easily flustered and very uncomfortable. I thought of the teachers in "Leaving the Script Behind," one of our journal review group readings. Like the researchers in that piece, I found myself dynamically adapting. I adjusted some text of my script and texted information to recipients at their request. I returned all my data to the campaign staffer who gave me the list, including my findings on my personal phone canvassing experience. Call it "canvasser research."