Guest guest Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 Hi Hon, Do you feel like killing those girls? Personally, I'd go for option 1 and see what happens. My bet is he will be so impressed by how you studied and worked that you will get a triple A + I never had this in college, but the teachers do like to test you. Good luck! GS > > > Hello, > > First, I would like to say sorry for being missing these past few days. The > workload for school is heavy and I have been busy. I am reading as many > e-mails as I can but have very little time to respond. > > I need the wisdom of the wonderful people here once again. Something > happened in a class today and I am not sure which of my reactions are fleas > and which are sound. Here is the story. > > My sociology professor made it clear on the first day of class that side > conversations would not be tolerated and would " effect the grade of > everyone > in the class " . I assumed he meant the obvious that if he had to stop class > to deal with it we would be missing out a little. Today three girls were > having a conversation during class. He stopped the class, told them to > teach the rest, and we will have an exam on Tuesday on the information he > did not cover unless the girls agree to withdraw from the class. He walked > out. The girls involved claimed to just be asking for clarification on > notes and would go talk to him. When they left a student in front of them > said they were talking for 30 minutes. Most students left but 7 of us > stayed to see if he came back. He did not. We went to his office to see if > there is anything we can do as we are all very concerned with our grades. > He claimed to be sorry but said this is how it has to be. Not only do we > have to worry about the exam but we are missing vital pieces of information > about research methods that we will need throughout the course. I am having > the classes paid for through a government program that requires good grades > and attendance. I brought this up to him that this could effect my funding > and his reaction was an oh well type reaction. > > I have 4 options on how to handle this. > > 1) Research the remainder of the information on my own and hopefully learn > enough to pass the exam. This would save my grade for now but I am left > knowing that he will continue to handle other's misbehavior by punishing > all > the class which could still effect my grades later on. > 2) Confront him directly either through e-mail or in person. He has been > very adamant that he will not change his mind and I fear this will cause > him > to punish me or the class further. > 3) Go to the school administration with the complaint. He has been a > professor their for a very long time and is a master in his field. He has > done things like this many times before so I fear that they support or at > least tolerate this behavior. > 4) Withdraw from the class and take it later with a different professor. > This is dependent that I can later fit the class into my schedule with the > other professor and that the school will permit it at this time. > > I have a very hard time letting go of thing that I strongly feel are > unethical and this fits the bill. I work very hard and don't feel that I > should be punished with loss of grades for other's behavior. I am trying to > decide on the best course of action. I just can't seem to figure out what > feelings are fleas and what might be practical. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 I got my B.A. degree from a university and graduated cum laude, and I never had *one* professor during those four years or during some of the post-graduate courses I took at other schools who behaved the way yours is behaving. I think what he's doing is weird and unethical, and I think you're getting ripped off. You paid good money to take this class from this college and this professor is not giving you what you paid for: his time and instruction. If this was happening to me I would make a formal complaint to his supervisors (the school administration) and I'd drop his class and take it from some other professor, later. This one has some kind of despotic, narcissistic power trip thing going on and its not your job to deal with it. I'd be furious at the inappropriateness of the behavior, the delay, the inconvenience, the cost and the aggravation and I'd report him and take the class later from someone who is sane. And if it ended up costing me a significant extra amount of money, I might even sue the school to get that back, too. Grrr! -Annie > > Hello, > > First, I would like to say sorry for being missing these past few days. The > workload for school is heavy and I have been busy. I am reading as many > e-mails as I can but have very little time to respond. > > I need the wisdom of the wonderful people here once again. Something > happened in a class today and I am not sure which of my reactions are fleas > and which are sound. Here is the story. > > My sociology professor made it clear on the first day of class that side > conversations would not be tolerated and would " effect the grade of everyone > in the class " . I assumed he meant the obvious that if he had to stop class > to deal with it we would be missing out a little. Today three girls were > having a conversation during class. He stopped the class, told them to > teach the rest, and we will have an exam on Tuesday on the information he > did not cover unless the girls agree to withdraw from the class. He walked > out. The girls involved claimed to just be asking for clarification on > notes and would go talk to him. When they left a student in front of them > said they were talking for 30 minutes. Most students left but 7 of us > stayed to see if he came back. He did not. We went to his office to see if > there is anything we can do as we are all very concerned with our grades. > He claimed to be sorry but said this is how it has to be. Not only do we > have to worry about the exam but we are missing vital pieces of information > about research methods that we will need throughout the course. I am having > the classes paid for through a government program that requires good grades > and attendance. I brought this up to him that this could effect my funding > and his reaction was an oh well type reaction. > > I have 4 options on how to handle this. > > 1) Research the remainder of the information on my own and hopefully learn > enough to pass the exam. This would save my grade for now but I am left > knowing that he will continue to handle other's misbehavior by punishing all > the class which could still effect my grades later on. > 2) Confront him directly either through e-mail or in person. He has been > very adamant that he will not change his mind and I fear this will cause him > to punish me or the class further. > 3) Go to the school administration with the complaint. He has been a > professor their for a very long time and is a master in his field. He has > done things like this many times before so I fear that they support or at > least tolerate this behavior. > 4) Withdraw from the class and take it later with a different professor. > This is dependent that I can later fit the class into my schedule with the > other professor and that the school will permit it at this time. > > I have a very hard time letting go of thing that I strongly feel are > unethical and this fits the bill. I work very hard and don't feel that I > should be punished with loss of grades for other's behavior. I am trying to > decide on the best course of action. I just can't seem to figure out what > feelings are fleas and what might be practical. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Yep, I was thinking the same thing - " this sounds like a sociology experiment " - and if it is, fine. Or if it's his way of making the point that his class time - and yours - is too valuable to be wasted by a gaggle of chatty airheads, then that's fine too. I bet nobody else in the class will push the boundary this semester. But if you don't think you can study the material well enough to pass the quiz, then you (AND THE OTHER STUDENTS) can go to the department chair or the dean and be sure there is some alternative way for you to keep up with the material and do well on the quiz. But when class re-convenes, if those three girls are still in there, I'd sure be looking daggers at them! The power of peer pressure might shut them up. > > > > Hello, > > > > First, I would like to say sorry for being missing these past few days. The > > workload for school is heavy and I have been busy. I am reading as many > > e-mails as I can but have very little time to respond. > > > > I need the wisdom of the wonderful people here once again. Something > > happened in a class today and I am not sure which of my reactions are fleas > > and which are sound. Here is the story. > > > > My sociology professor made it clear on the first day of class that side > > conversations would not be tolerated and would " effect the grade of everyone > > in the class " . I assumed he meant the obvious that if he had to stop class > > to deal with it we would be missing out a little. Today three girls were > > having a conversation during class. He stopped the class, told them to > > teach the rest, and we will have an exam on Tuesday on the information he > > did not cover unless the girls agree to withdraw from the class. He walked > > out. The girls involved claimed to just be asking for clarification on > > notes and would go talk to him. When they left a student in front of them > > said they were talking for 30 minutes. Most students left but 7 of us > > stayed to see if he came back. He did not. We went to his office to see if > > there is anything we can do as we are all very concerned with our grades. > > He claimed to be sorry but said this is how it has to be. Not only do we > > have to worry about the exam but we are missing vital pieces of information > > about research methods that we will need throughout the course. I am having > > the classes paid for through a government program that requires good grades > > and attendance. I brought this up to him that this could effect my funding > > and his reaction was an oh well type reaction. > > > > I have 4 options on how to handle this. > > > > 1) Research the remainder of the information on my own and hopefully learn > > enough to pass the exam. This would save my grade for now but I am left > > knowing that he will continue to handle other's misbehavior by punishing all > > the class which could still effect my grades later on. > > 2) Confront him directly either through e-mail or in person. He has been > > very adamant that he will not change his mind and I fear this will cause him > > to punish me or the class further. > > 3) Go to the school administration with the complaint. He has been a > > professor their for a very long time and is a master in his field. He has > > done things like this many times before so I fear that they support or at > > least tolerate this behavior. > > 4) Withdraw from the class and take it later with a different professor. > > This is dependent that I can later fit the class into my schedule with the > > other professor and that the school will permit it at this time. > > > > I have a very hard time letting go of thing that I strongly feel are > > unethical and this fits the bill. I work very hard and don't feel that I > > should be punished with loss of grades for other's behavior. I am trying to > > decide on the best course of action. I just can't seem to figure out what > > feelings are fleas and what might be practical. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 I think Annie hit the nail on the head. Prof's behavior was unfair and unjust not only to the entire class but to those girls. I could see his behavior triggering a KO for a number of reasons: - Prof's reaction was disproportionate to the event. - He is causing massive drama because of his poor impulse (reaction) control. - He has a lack of empathy for others. - He has a sense of entitlement regarding automatic compliance with his expectations - He sounds pugilistic, prone to pick fights If you stay in his class he is likely to trigger you bigtime. I would suggest dropping out of his class and quietly replacing it with another. Sure there is a cost. I would also write an anonymous letter to the dean about the situation and how it can impact the college to allow this behavior to remain undisciplined. In any case I would not stay around such a jackass. Life's too short. Both my cents, T. > > > > Hello, > > > > First, I would like to say sorry for being missing these past few days. The > > workload for school is heavy and I have been busy. I am reading as many > > e-mails as I can but have very little time to respond. > > > > I need the wisdom of the wonderful people here once again. Something > > happened in a class today and I am not sure which of my reactions are fleas > > and which are sound. Here is the story. > > > > My sociology professor made it clear on the first day of class that side > > conversations would not be tolerated and would " effect the grade of everyone > > in the class " . I assumed he meant the obvious that if he had to stop class > > to deal with it we would be missing out a little. Today three girls were > > having a conversation during class. He stopped the class, told them to > > teach the rest, and we will have an exam on Tuesday on the information he > > did not cover unless the girls agree to withdraw from the class. He walked > > out. The girls involved claimed to just be asking for clarification on > > notes and would go talk to him. When they left a student in front of them > > said they were talking for 30 minutes. Most students left but 7 of us > > stayed to see if he came back. He did not. We went to his office to see if > > there is anything we can do as we are all very concerned with our grades. > > He claimed to be sorry but said this is how it has to be. Not only do we > > have to worry about the exam but we are missing vital pieces of information > > about research methods that we will need throughout the course. I am having > > the classes paid for through a government program that requires good grades > > and attendance. I brought this up to him that this could effect my funding > > and his reaction was an oh well type reaction. > > > > I have 4 options on how to handle this. > > > > 1) Research the remainder of the information on my own and hopefully learn > > enough to pass the exam. This would save my grade for now but I am left > > knowing that he will continue to handle other's misbehavior by punishing all > > the class which could still effect my grades later on. > > 2) Confront him directly either through e-mail or in person. He has been > > very adamant that he will not change his mind and I fear this will cause him > > to punish me or the class further. > > 3) Go to the school administration with the complaint. He has been a > > professor their for a very long time and is a master in his field. He has > > done things like this many times before so I fear that they support or at > > least tolerate this behavior. > > 4) Withdraw from the class and take it later with a different professor. > > This is dependent that I can later fit the class into my schedule with the > > other professor and that the school will permit it at this time. > > > > I have a very hard time letting go of thing that I strongly feel are > > unethical and this fits the bill. I work very hard and don't feel that I > > should be punished with loss of grades for other's behavior. I am trying to > > decide on the best course of action. I just can't seem to figure out what > > feelings are fleas and what might be practical. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 OK, good information. It sounds like my intuition was right and your professor is behaving inappropriately and irrationally. This isn't a noble living experiment in sociology, this is him having some kind of emotional breakdown/narcissistic rage issue. Teaching is a high-stress job, I've been given to understand, and maybe this professor has reached his stress limit and is having a bad stress reaction. It happens. People are only human. But whatever his issues are, its not your problem to deal with, in my opinion. You're there to get your degree from this college, which is what you're paying good money to get and this guy is suddenly unable to fulfill his job function and is endangering your ability to pass his course. I stand by my suggestion to report this behavior to the professor's supervisors and request that they deal with this situation ASAP. If its not resolved immediately, then drop the class. I'd do some investigating to find out who are the most recommended sociology professors (besides this guy) and take the class later from one of them. You are basically a client, a paying customer of this college and you have the right to expect to receive what you're paying for. In my opinion. -Annie > > From what I understand this is a first for him. In 2 other classes when > students were talking he threw them out and demanded them to withdraw from > the class. He used some inappropriate language but did not go so far to > punish the other classmates. When the 7 of us went to his office he kept > referring to the class as a single entity. I can't describe it but the tone > and body language led one to beleive that he truly saw us all as one. He > said thing like " it's sad, you were shaping up to be a good class " . I got > the feeling that he was unable to distinguish good student/bad student in > the same class. It sounded as if these girls decide to remain that will > make the whole class " bad " > > OMG...I just finished typing that and realized how that seems like > splitting. That is the most black and white description I can imagine. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Hi , I've had a professor do something similar (though not quite on this scale). In my case, she gave us an exam as " punishment " because there were five students in a class of 50 who hadn't filled out an (optional) evaluation survey. What I suggest is a couple of things. First, meet with the professor and see if you can get an outline or overview of what material he plans to test you on. Then study it and take the exam. If it turns out the exam is just a sociology experiment or the professor trying to prove a point, fine. If not, you'll have studied so you should be relatively okay. But if the exam is real, go talk to the administration regardless of how you do on the test. It's unlikely anything will come of it, but if the school has written proof that your professor pulled a ridiculous stunt like this you could potentially appeal to the group that gave you your scholarship if that ends up being necessary. Good luck, and I hope the rest of your semester goes well! -Rae > > Hello, > > First, I would like to say sorry for being missing these past few days. The > workload for school is heavy and I have been busy. I am reading as many > e-mails as I can but have very little time to respond. > > I need the wisdom of the wonderful people here once again. Something > happened in a class today and I am not sure which of my reactions are fleas > and which are sound. Here is the story. > > My sociology professor made it clear on the first day of class that side > conversations would not be tolerated and would " effect the grade of everyone > in the class " . I assumed he meant the obvious that if he had to stop class > to deal with it we would be missing out a little. Today three girls were > having a conversation during class. He stopped the class, told them to > teach the rest, and we will have an exam on Tuesday on the information he > did not cover unless the girls agree to withdraw from the class. He walked > out. The girls involved claimed to just be asking for clarification on > notes and would go talk to him. When they left a student in front of them > said they were talking for 30 minutes. Most students left but 7 of us > stayed to see if he came back. He did not. We went to his office to see if > there is anything we can do as we are all very concerned with our grades. > He claimed to be sorry but said this is how it has to be. Not only do we > have to worry about the exam but we are missing vital pieces of information > about research methods that we will need throughout the course. I am having > the classes paid for through a government program that requires good grades > and attendance. I brought this up to him that this could effect my funding > and his reaction was an oh well type reaction. > > I have 4 options on how to handle this. > > 1) Research the remainder of the information on my own and hopefully learn > enough to pass the exam. This would save my grade for now but I am left > knowing that he will continue to handle other's misbehavior by punishing all > the class which could still effect my grades later on. > 2) Confront him directly either through e-mail or in person. He has been > very adamant that he will not change his mind and I fear this will cause him > to punish me or the class further. > 3) Go to the school administration with the complaint. He has been a > professor their for a very long time and is a master in his field. He has > done things like this many times before so I fear that they support or at > least tolerate this behavior. > 4) Withdraw from the class and take it later with a different professor. > This is dependent that I can later fit the class into my schedule with the > other professor and that the school will permit it at this time. > > I have a very hard time letting go of thing that I strongly feel are > unethical and this fits the bill. I work very hard and don't feel that I > should be punished with loss of grades for other's behavior. I am trying to > decide on the best course of action. I just can't seem to figure out what > feelings are fleas and what might be practical. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Hi , I've had a professor do something similar (though not quite on this scale). In my case, she gave us an exam as " punishment " because there were five students in a class of 50 who hadn't filled out an (optional) evaluation survey. What I suggest is a couple of things. First, meet with the professor and see if you can get an outline or overview of what material he plans to test you on. Then study it and take the exam. If it turns out the exam is just a sociology experiment or the professor trying to prove a point, fine. If not, you'll have studied so you should be relatively okay. But if the exam is real, go talk to the administration regardless of how you do on the test. It's unlikely anything will come of it, but if the school has written proof that your professor pulled a ridiculous stunt like this you could potentially appeal to the group that gave you your scholarship if that ends up being necessary. Good luck, and I hope the rest of your semester goes well! -Rae > > Hello, > > First, I would like to say sorry for being missing these past few days. The > workload for school is heavy and I have been busy. I am reading as many > e-mails as I can but have very little time to respond. > > I need the wisdom of the wonderful people here once again. Something > happened in a class today and I am not sure which of my reactions are fleas > and which are sound. Here is the story. > > My sociology professor made it clear on the first day of class that side > conversations would not be tolerated and would " effect the grade of everyone > in the class " . I assumed he meant the obvious that if he had to stop class > to deal with it we would be missing out a little. Today three girls were > having a conversation during class. He stopped the class, told them to > teach the rest, and we will have an exam on Tuesday on the information he > did not cover unless the girls agree to withdraw from the class. He walked > out. The girls involved claimed to just be asking for clarification on > notes and would go talk to him. When they left a student in front of them > said they were talking for 30 minutes. Most students left but 7 of us > stayed to see if he came back. He did not. We went to his office to see if > there is anything we can do as we are all very concerned with our grades. > He claimed to be sorry but said this is how it has to be. Not only do we > have to worry about the exam but we are missing vital pieces of information > about research methods that we will need throughout the course. I am having > the classes paid for through a government program that requires good grades > and attendance. I brought this up to him that this could effect my funding > and his reaction was an oh well type reaction. > > I have 4 options on how to handle this. > > 1) Research the remainder of the information on my own and hopefully learn > enough to pass the exam. This would save my grade for now but I am left > knowing that he will continue to handle other's misbehavior by punishing all > the class which could still effect my grades later on. > 2) Confront him directly either through e-mail or in person. He has been > very adamant that he will not change his mind and I fear this will cause him > to punish me or the class further. > 3) Go to the school administration with the complaint. He has been a > professor their for a very long time and is a master in his field. He has > done things like this many times before so I fear that they support or at > least tolerate this behavior. > 4) Withdraw from the class and take it later with a different professor. > This is dependent that I can later fit the class into my schedule with the > other professor and that the school will permit it at this time. > > I have a very hard time letting go of thing that I strongly feel are > unethical and this fits the bill. I work very hard and don't feel that I > should be punished with loss of grades for other's behavior. I am trying to > decide on the best course of action. I just can't seem to figure out what > feelings are fleas and what might be practical. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Hi , I've had a professor do something similar (though not quite on this scale). In my case, she gave us an exam as " punishment " because there were five students in a class of 50 who hadn't filled out an (optional) evaluation survey. What I suggest is a couple of things. First, meet with the professor and see if you can get an outline or overview of what material he plans to test you on. Then study it and take the exam. If it turns out the exam is just a sociology experiment or the professor trying to prove a point, fine. If not, you'll have studied so you should be relatively okay. But if the exam is real, go talk to the administration regardless of how you do on the test. It's unlikely anything will come of it, but if the school has written proof that your professor pulled a ridiculous stunt like this you could potentially appeal to the group that gave you your scholarship if that ends up being necessary. Good luck, and I hope the rest of your semester goes well! -Rae > > Hello, > > First, I would like to say sorry for being missing these past few days. The > workload for school is heavy and I have been busy. I am reading as many > e-mails as I can but have very little time to respond. > > I need the wisdom of the wonderful people here once again. Something > happened in a class today and I am not sure which of my reactions are fleas > and which are sound. Here is the story. > > My sociology professor made it clear on the first day of class that side > conversations would not be tolerated and would " effect the grade of everyone > in the class " . I assumed he meant the obvious that if he had to stop class > to deal with it we would be missing out a little. Today three girls were > having a conversation during class. He stopped the class, told them to > teach the rest, and we will have an exam on Tuesday on the information he > did not cover unless the girls agree to withdraw from the class. He walked > out. The girls involved claimed to just be asking for clarification on > notes and would go talk to him. When they left a student in front of them > said they were talking for 30 minutes. Most students left but 7 of us > stayed to see if he came back. He did not. We went to his office to see if > there is anything we can do as we are all very concerned with our grades. > He claimed to be sorry but said this is how it has to be. Not only do we > have to worry about the exam but we are missing vital pieces of information > about research methods that we will need throughout the course. I am having > the classes paid for through a government program that requires good grades > and attendance. I brought this up to him that this could effect my funding > and his reaction was an oh well type reaction. > > I have 4 options on how to handle this. > > 1) Research the remainder of the information on my own and hopefully learn > enough to pass the exam. This would save my grade for now but I am left > knowing that he will continue to handle other's misbehavior by punishing all > the class which could still effect my grades later on. > 2) Confront him directly either through e-mail or in person. He has been > very adamant that he will not change his mind and I fear this will cause him > to punish me or the class further. > 3) Go to the school administration with the complaint. He has been a > professor their for a very long time and is a master in his field. He has > done things like this many times before so I fear that they support or at > least tolerate this behavior. > 4) Withdraw from the class and take it later with a different professor. > This is dependent that I can later fit the class into my schedule with the > other professor and that the school will permit it at this time. > > I have a very hard time letting go of thing that I strongly feel are > unethical and this fits the bill. I work very hard and don't feel that I > should be punished with loss of grades for other's behavior. I am trying to > decide on the best course of action. I just can't seem to figure out what > feelings are fleas and what might be practical. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 You might write him a letter (putting things in writing is different than just going and talking to him). Explain your point of view and what you see are your options. Then ask him if he could think of any other options that you have overlooked that would be valuable in order for you to pass his class. For you value him because he does have tenure and is a respected professor in his field. School is not about being fair. It is a system. It is not perfect...it is not even real. And if you ever worked for a university you would find out that their is a lot of politics involved in getting where they have gotten to. It is worst than the job that you probably want one day. Suggested reading ....Stoner byhttp://www.amazon.com/Stoner-York-Review-Books-Classics/dp/1590171993 My husband worked for a university for 6 months and got tired of the games. He " hit the slide " ...even though it was a job he had coveted since he was a boy. Good luck, Becky > I have 4 options on how to handle this. > > 1) Research the remainder of the information on my own and hopefully learn > enough to pass the exam. This would save my grade for now but I am left > knowing that he will continue to handle other's misbehavior by punishing all > the class which could still effect my grades later on. > 2) Confront him directly either through e-mail or in person. He has been > very adamant that he will not change his mind and I fear this will cause him > to punish me or the class further. > 3) Go to the school administration with the complaint. He has been a > professor their for a very long time and is a master in his field. He has > done things like this many times before so I fear that they support or at > least tolerate this behavior. > 4) Withdraw from the class and take it later with a different professor. > This is dependent that I can later fit the class into my schedule with the > other professor and that the school will permit it at this time. > > I have a very hard time letting go of thing that I strongly feel are > unethical and this fits the bill. I work very hard and don't feel that I > should be punished with loss of grades for other's behavior. I am trying to > decide on the best course of action. I just can't seem to figure out what > feelings are fleas and what might be practical. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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