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Journal or Diary, that is the question

Is this a learning Journal, or Learning Diary. That is what I want to know. Is there a difference? Does journal mean it is written for a man, as to a Diary written by a woman? If so, why do the teachers use the word journal over diary, because the majority of the students in our class are female? Something I am curious about, and would like to learn for my next "journal" entry.

So this week so far has been a bit here and there. The focus of our class time, and out of class time, seems to be focused around the play Doubt. The teachers seem to enjoy it because the play itself bridges the gap between Religious Studies, and English for aquinas. But where is all the Journalism love? It seems to be that Religious Studies and English get to have all the fun together while Journalism does its own funky thang(Props to M Camp, for creating an intriguing class).

Not to single out the teachers here, they have the authority to do what they like, and this Blog is used for learning purposes, but I am curious to know just how much planning is done behind the scenes with all of our teachers together. Just how much do these guys know each other? How long have they been around? If I wanted to sit down and have coffee and discuss Monty Python movies, would they accept? In the case of Thom Parkhill, I am almost certain he would say yes, and because this is a learning journal, I will explain to you why I have learned that this may be true.

I was constructing a paper for my psychology class, which I was going to attend the day after, and I was becoming flustered, our class for aquinas was out to lunch, and Thom was the last one to pack up his things to leave, and I was baginning to watch my favorite sitcom The Big Bang Theory, on my laptop. He immediatly asked me what I was doing, and when told him, he expressed interest, without being too intrusive. We exchanged pleasentries, and he exited the class.

I have a friend, no a Best Friend, by the name of Ryan Jess. This man is a teacher, in a school on the northern part of New Brunswick. I have known Ryan many years, and he loves what he does. Ryan often expresses to me how he knows the gap between him and his students. They are mearily high school students, so having any kind of relationship with them outside the classroom is frowned apon, but does this mean it would be wrong? Ryan knows that in society, much like society in the play Doubt, that relationships between people in authority and their pupils, can be a tricky thing.

To me, as a man, I know I could get to know Thom Parkhill and he could most likely become my good friend. He is quite alot older than me, and I am his student, but society would most likely never think twice about it. Myself, a lot like my friend Ryan, have sat and conversed about why there are so many boundries.

Can a boy, not be curious about what it is to be a man. Is it wrong for a boy to ask questions? To seek knowledge, much like a man seeks it from an elderly. In my mind, I have difficulties with doubt. A man may want to harm a boy, because he seeks bad things. But another man, may seek to help a boy, in order to be a mentor to that boy. Bad men are everywhere, and they appear in many places, so how does a man help a boy without suffering judgement from others.

My mind races at 4:40 in the morning. I am sick, I am sore, and I find myself conflicted by this play in ways I never thought I would. I hope my views do not offend. I also hope I can sleep tonight.

I guess this is what university is all about.