Before Barack Obama became America's president, he used to be a law professor at the University of Chicago. He taught students at the institution for 12 years, and specialized in Constitutional Law and racial studies, before charting a career as a public servant. What do his former students and co-workers have to say about the president as a teacher? Read on below.
In 2008, the New York Times ran a story about President Barack Obama as a law professor. One colleague noted that the Obama had so many ideas and tried if these would work by bringing it up in classes. He was generally well-liked in the university, by both students and faculty. He was a "popular and enigmatic" professor, the article highlighted.
"Obama taught as a professor before he became President, he was a law professor. pic.twitter.com/Hph8WBm9wl
— David Kolade (@dakolalads) April 7, 2016
A former student related that he was able to experience an Obama class while "sitting under a tree," said Jesse Ruiz via The Guardian. The president's classes are also easy-going and free-flowing and man liberals were interested to take his classes because of this. But they were apparently surprised that Obama would time and again challenge their opinions.
Another student, Noni Ellison-Southall, said that she left Obama's classes "intellectually and emotionally drained," per CNN. She was challenged in class to "consider every perspective" and credits this to making her become a better lawyer.
The president has not made it specifically clear if he's going back to teaching once his term at the White House is over this year. "I'll go back to doing the kinds of work that I was doing before, just trying to find ways to help people," he said her USA Today. The First Family actually intends to stay in Washington after they leave the White House.
Observers note that the president has years of experience in community organization, which he can still pursue when he's no longer a public servant. He can still pursue his agenda to help other Americans, but without the pressure and stress of being the President of the United States.
