Benjamin S. Grossberg - Teachers Make a Difference - Edward Hirsch

The transcript discusses the profound impact of Ed Hirsch, a poet and teacher, on the speaker's intellectual and emotional engagement. Hirsch's unique teaching style combined intellectual rigor with emotional passion, creating a classroom environment that encouraged open expression of thoughts and dreams. His memorable recitation of Frost's 'Desert Places' exemplified his passion for poetry, leaving a lasting impression on the speaker.

How did Ed Hirsch influence the speaker's approach to intellectual engagement?

• By discouraging emotional responses

• By emphasizing memorization of poetry

• By integrating intellectual and emotional investment

• By focusing solely on intellectual analysis

What unique question did Ed Hirsch often ask at the beginning of his classes?

• What are your thoughts, hopes, or dreams for the future?

• What is the theme of today's lesson?

• What did you learn from the last class?

• What is your favorite poem?

How did Ed Hirsch's teaching style affect the classroom environment?

• It discouraged personal expression

• It limited discussions to academic topics only

• It made the classroom a rigid and structured space

• It created an unbounded space for thoughts and dreams

What was notable about Ed Hirsch's recitation of Frost's poem 'Desert Places'?

• It was read from a book

• It was delivered with visible passion and slight nervousness

• It was a polished stage performance

• It was a group recitation with students

What effect did Ed Hirsch's recitation have on the speaker?

• It was confusing and unclear

• It was a purely intellectual exercise

• It was a forgettable experience

• It felt like a tectonic shift in understanding poetry