What’s my favorite part of being Professor Carol?

It’s lovely to hear from the kids, of course. But that happens most often when there’s a discovery that thrills the student, such as a 13-year old who realized she could take her newly achieved ability to read the Cyrillic alphabet (after embracing our Imperial Russia course) and transcribe her beloved “Elvish” vocabulary from Lord of the Rings into Russian. She then created a four-page Elvish-Russian glossary and sent me a copy! Who wouldn’t be charmed by that?

When the parents write, however, it’s much different. Sometimes it’s a basic inquiry into course content or assigning credits. But more often it’s a personal statement about the parent’s experience entering, or re-entering, the study of history via the Fine Arts. It turns out to be quite a journey for them. It takes them back to vivid musical or artistic experiences from their youths. Or, it triggers a rueful review of their own education that was largely devoid of the Fine Arts, or even any teacher who seemed to value Western art, music, theater, or dance.

They want their kids to have this exposure and understanding. And they want to have it back in their lives. It’s as if the sun has come out after long stretches of cloudy days.

And so it is. The world looks brighter, and far more interesting, when bathed in music, painting, the language of theater, and the grace of dance. Reconnecting with musical interests a parent had as a teen is hugely rewarding. Recognizing architectural styles on their own streets and linking them to movements in American history changes the way they and their kids perceive their home towns. Realizing that Horowitz played in their City Auditorium in the 1930s turns an old building into a cultural shrine.

Their list of discoveries goes on and on. And we here at Professor Carol are grateful to be part of the journey. Keep those letters coming.