While I was teaching my last class this past week, the fire-alarm went off. The whole lot of us dutifully trooped outside and, because it was a beautiful day, we kept sitting on the grass even when the bells had stopped ringing. But then other teachers had the same idea and I could soon hear one of them lecturing loudly under a tree; I became very self-conscious about what I was saying and how unappealing I might sound to others. As a little service to all of those who are in the teaching profession, I’m posting an essay from last year, written by David Hare in praise of public speaking:

I’ve noticed, among my friends and acquaintances, that I am, for some reason, one of the few people who positively looks forward to the speeches at weddings. I’d go further. For me, they’re the best part. Perhaps you may think me a cold fish when I admit that I have sometimes watched unmoved as the ring was slipped onto the finger, or as the first kiss was taken. (Priests always seem to be saying “Not yet.”) But I have never failed to feel a thrill of genuine anticipation when someone calls for silence and rolls out the magic words: “Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking.”

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