Well, that was tiring.
On or about the first of February - 6 days before my Western Civilization class was due to start at the community college at which I have been an adjunct instructor for the past 17 years - I was contacted by the History Department that a) my class had been cancelled due to low enrollment (community college enrollments have been in the toilet for several years) and b) they could offer me another class, this one in US History. I accepted, knowing it would be pretty rough. I had taught US History many times, before the pandemic. When the pandemic hit, and I switched over to "synchronous" classes - I lecture to a Zoom meeting attended by students of the class - I learned very quickly that, although I can lecture in a live classroom from scribbled notes, I need a full script for a screen performance. Otherwise, I freeze. Over several years of live-screened lectures, I scripted Western Civ - that's what I usually teach - and had my standard exams and written assignments. I ha