Richard Deming - Teachers Make a Difference - Robert Creeley

The speaker reflects on their experience with poet Robert Creeley during their PhD at the University of Buffalo. Creeley, who was on the speaker's oral exam committee, challenged them to think authentically and break away from academic conventions. Through intense weekly discussions, Creeley pushed the speaker to answer questions truthfully, particularly during an exam on Shakespeare's 'The Tempest.' This experience profoundly impacted the speaker's approach to teaching, emphasizing the importance of genuine thought and expression over habitual academic discourse.

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