Personal Journal: B11735
Position: Dean of Xeno Science
Standard Date: 22.43.612
This week a new professor arrived and started his instruction to our students. As the Dean of Xeno Science, I need to document our new arrival from the planet Earth Alliance. While Humans are not completely unknown to most of the galactic community we are still only learning the individual tendency of humans.
Professor Matthew McTavish has shown a high level of ability to prep his class but there has been some question if his subject matter falls under Sciences or if he needs to be sent to the Arts. He has even admitted that on his own planet, the course can fall into multiple disciplines and even the reverse, that those actually fall under his expertise.
It's traditionally within my realm to sit in on the first few classes, and the following is a standard account of my experience. I quickly realized inquiries from the council were bound to reach me when he was teaching radicalization in so many fields, there may be a need to remove students to their home planets.
When I attended his first class, it started with a story about a man that watched shadows in a cave. As the story was progressed many of the students took notes on their digital pads, suddenly professor McTavish had shut off the pads and spoke in a low voice that seemed to reverberate.
“Please, no notes today. After today if you end up interested in the subject then there will be plenty of note-taking. Be warned after today you may never be the same.” McTavish's warning alone should have warranted a full-stop and review.
The story continued about the man who learned the truth in the shadows and the insanity of this poor prisoner trying to explain his new truth. He then explained that this story is from the ancient teacher named Socrates, who was very real but never may have been alive. This caused scoffing among the students.
A small Tericix raised their paw. "So was Socrates an AI?"
While I felt pride in my students' inquiring minds, this felt different as the human Matthew smiled; not just a smile of joy but of victory, a smile that affected the most extremes in both spectrums. Several or more prey and hunter species seemed to readjust in their seats.
“No, this was thousands of years before AI was even a concept. We will talk about that man in a later class as my planet AI father will bring up very good points in our discussion.” McTavish went over to a primitive board (that he brought) as he explained and made a single small line using a white, soft, rock-like material.
The Tericix blurted out in its high pitch voice, ”I am sorry please do not remove me… I was just curious...”
A laugh burst out of our new Human Professor “No, this isn't any trouble, questions are always welcomed. This is just a way for me to understand how many steps we take.”
At this point I had to interject, “Human Professor Matthew McTavish, when you mean steps does this involve the class leaving the room? You will need to fill out proper forms to take the students anywhere.”
“Please, just call me Matthew, We will not physically go anywhere… Well not in the normal sense but our minds will travel time, space, and wherever it needs to.” He spoke with extreme authority.
A Val^tuk stood up and shouted with frustration, “You are telling us that humans, a species that still has issues with FTL, can travel time and space with little disregard!?!”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
With that smile again, the Val^tuk biological camouflage activated. “Pardon, how many generations back do you know your line?” Matthew said as he went over to the board.
Val^tuk puffed out and spoke calmly, “Nine generations as I can sing all the exploits of wars among the stars.”
McTavish smiled, “And what do you plan to have for your morning meal tomorrow?”
The Val^tuk slowly answered, “My clutch traditionally eats starburst fruit and rock tripe.”
The human spoke once more, “Excellent, you've just told me the past and you even told me the future with a high degree of accuracy… So the future and the past were yours to tell, even from beyond your lifetime. Beyond your location as well, unless your family lived in that seat and you will eat there. So what do you think about the time and space travel that you just performed for the class?” The Val^tuk beak had begun to open and seemed to stall. This Mad Human went to his board and made another line next to the first. “Please sit down, you have done great. So back to the story of the cave, what is the lesson?”
A larger than normal Nazom, raised a tentacle and let out a small glow, ”Is it normal for the professors of your planet to ask the students what the lesson is? We are used to the professor telling us what we will learn.” McTavish started to walk away from the board then walked back, looking at the board then to the Nazom, then back to the board, and paused, seeming to be in thought. I was about to interrupt the class as I believed the human experienced a neuro shut down or some other failure. As I began to rise and clear my voice chamber, the human put a hand up.
“While it is uncommon it is not very rare for discussions to be focused on the questions of our students. If this is an unusual concept, I want you to ask yourself a single question. A single word that will be the bane and the freedom of this class. If you dare to walk into the light of the caves of your life, this single word will affect any field you are in be it: military, art or engineering and so many more that may or may not exist yet. Do you want to hear this word?”
The Nazom glowed several colors and the rest of the class seemed to stir and mumble in their native forms of communication. They looked through several pairs of eyes at this human, “Just me or all of us?”
Our new professor walked over to the towering Nazom as a creature with no fear. The student seemed to squat down so they could be closer to each other. The human handed a small stone with some writing that could not be seen even with my keen eyes. As Matthew walked back to the odd green blackish board he almost as a challenge declared, “You can share or not share that one word… but I think it will take all of you to solve it.”
The Nazom stared as the class was in silence, all attention onto the small stone that seemed to hold the universe. The Nazom changed to the color that I believe is the color of fear in their species and spoke one word, “Why?”
At first, I mistook it as the student asking a question, but then it slowly reached the class like a tide in the pools I was raised in. Then the silence broke as marks were being added to the count on the board. “That is enough for today, in your emails is a simple outline of the discussions we will have and what areas of philosophy will be discussed. Class dismissed.” The students looked confused and left with many appearing to be in a daze, though a few seemed to be in overdrive as they talked to others and themselves.
I approached this professor, from a world that just started in the grander Universe, whose single class may be categorized as sedation, psychological warfare, or get you sent to a mental hospital to be isolated. “Matthew, this is a science class and yet I did not see one formula, one schematic, nor hard answer to any diagram. So how is this a science? How does this help create engineers and technicians?“
The human went over to his board and turned to me. Something in his walk and his gaze looked straight at me, through me. “Tell me, why do you think science is taught that way? Were you taught to only look at the shadows of your cave or were you taught to understand the things that make the shadow? One last question: Why are you scared? Of me and the questions in your head?” I did not answer him but he made another mark on the board.
It has taken me a few days to write this report as I needed time to process this unusual educational experience. I have begun the paperwork to have this course instructed to many of my department heads as I am still not sure how to process what has happened. I am not sure if I should fear or welcome this new addition to this branch of science. I have looked up this philosophy and the best I can find is the study of learning or the love of learning.
The reason this personal log is not the official notice is because our current documentation does not allow for one's personal feelings on a subject. Now I wonder WHY?
End of Document