Maria J. Garcia

Commentary for 4/28/09

“Imagining Educational Research: On the Uses of Fiction in Autobiographical Narrative Inquiry”

Author: Allison Pryer

 

Allison Pryer’s article brings up, when quoting Kathleen Rockhill “the boundaries of the speakable” and the concept of “dualism” (Pryor 2).  I read her article several times, each time, gleaning a different intent in it and eventually deciding that I was, indeed, “objectifying” scientific research over ethnographic research in the binary of dualities.  In my opinion, the jury is still out as to whether one should be “privileged” over the other.  I enjoy readings such as Pryer’s and Bonnie Sunstein’s and believe I understand the “power of the narrative.” 

 

Moreover, as Tina wrote in her commentary,

“Pryer believes that the interpretive nature of the autobiographical narrative leads to better discussions about pedagogy and culture.” (par.1)

 

However, Pryer also writes about “constructive neglect” and cautions the writer to “decide what to include in the text, and more crucially, what to leave out” (9).  This brings to mind an instance in one of my classroom observations.  I was observing a small Essential Writing class consisting of six students and one Instructor.  An International student from India was in the class who would constantly look over at me and appeared to be distracted by my presence in the room.  The Instructor called this to his attention and asked him to please concentrate on the lesson.  I felt embarrassed for the student and for the Instructor’s behavior and decided to leave that part out of my write-up.  In hindsight, should I have included it?  And if so, to what purpose?  Was I guilty of “constructive neglect?” or was I being sensitive to the situation?  Going further with this issue, if I was just “sensitive,” to the issue, is that not an indication of my own biases?

 

I do not fault the Instructor; I just think he has a different teaching style than I and wanted to keep “order” in his classroom.  Neither do I fault the student; he possibly felt intimidated or curious by my presence in the room based on his perception of being “other” in a new country and a new environment.