Opinion on this professer, please

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Before I continue with my post, I just want to make it known that I'm not attempting to post anything regarding religion since I know that topic is banned on the Dis - however, in order for other posters to understand my experience, it's important for me to mention the type of class it was.

I took an Old Testament Literature class when I was in college - I went to a state school, just for the record. When I signed up, I thought that the class would be about stories from the Bible, I was very wrong.

Every single day, the professor would come into the classroom, push the table in the front of the room up against the wall and sit on the table with his legs crossed. Three times a week, 50 minutes a day I sat in that classroom and heard him preach his own religion to the class. Our 'homework' (if you can call it that) was basically fill-in-the-blank Bible verses that the professor made up.

He would sit there and disregard every religion but his own, made horrible statements about homosexuals and just preached to the class. The entire semester, he never once tested us on anything because he couldn't - everything he taught in class and the homework were all of his religious views. I found one class interesting that semester - that was it.

Near the end of the semester, I found out that one of my dear friends was gay. I had had it with his anti-gay statements and I made the choice not to attend the last week of classes. I did however do my final project - a paper on what I found interesting in the class.

Anybody who knows me, knows that I'm very straight-laced and I don't disrespect authority. However, this professor had pushed me over the edge. I told him in the paper what I found interesting in his including this part of the opening paragraph:
"I find it interesting that I sat in your class for 50 minutes a day, three times a week to have you disregard every single religion but your own."

In my paper, I addressed my feelings towards his views of homosexuality and how I felt he preached to us. I concluded my paper by saying:

"I find it interesting that you believe that half of American is not going to Heaven. Thankfully for all of us, you are not God".

After turning in the paper, I kept thinking what did I do?! I could fail this class because of that one paper - but I stood up for what I believed in. When my grades arrived a week or so later, I got a 100% on my paper and a final grade of A.

After winter break, I was welcomed back to college with a several page note from this professor basically telling me that it was a misunderstanding and how he would never force his religious views on his students and that he would really like for us to be friends. I was kind of creeped out by his letter -I understand him wanted to defend himself, but I found the part of his wanting us to be friends very creepy. I never continued any communication with that professor from there on out.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if the OP's daughter does talk to the Dean about this professor, it may or may not change her grade. However, it really bothers her and it's something that she truly believes is wrong, I think she should just listen to her heart.

 

[chexie]

OP i get where your daughter is coming from, I'm a sophomore at a community college here in Texas.

I've experienced a teacher just like this my second semester of freshman year, but mine wasn't a government teacher he was an english teacher. The professor would cuss in the class if someone tried to disagree or put fourth a better argument against his beliefs. He was by far the hardest professor i've ever taken so far. I remember one day in class when he straight up told us that our english 1 professors were all idiots and they taught us completely wrong, and how infuriated he was that he had to take the time out of his class to fix our previous professors mistakes.

My class never did anything about him that i know of, i just sat there and took the class with my head down. I was surprised that i managed to barely walk out of that class with a B.

Now i have had friends with my similar problems with their professors at the same community college as me. My friend jessica had a psychology teacher who did the same ad your dd teacher does. So my friend jess and majority of her class had decided that they had enough. she told me they had to go through this chain of command to file a complaint.


1. head of the department. in her case the psychology department head

2. director of general ed or academic director (or whatever title they use for the person that is over all academic instructors)

3. campus dean


How our school resolved it, for the rest of the semester the teacher had to have a class observer, which was provided by the school. The observer would sit in through the entire class and take notes while observing the class & professor.

My friend Jessica said that once the observer was there, the class was like any other normal class and went by smooth.

i hope this helps you OP and your DD. if it doesn't she could always drop the course.

 

[mhsjax]

As the mom, you should stay out. (ETA: I see you said you would.) I agree guidance from a parent is a good thing. Rushing down to the college with fists in the air is a bad thing. )

If your daughter asked me, I would argue with him in class. NO ONE calls women stupid in front of me. And then I would win the argument. I don't back down and would give him as much as he gave.

But. I would also tell her to record some of the classes and bring that to the dean. Back-ups never hurt.

I like your style. I would give that creep whatever he dished out. I think I am just too old to put up with any of that crap. These college kids are green. I am almost 48, and really don't give a crap what he thinks of women. And just let him fail me for my opinions and see what happens.

Funny, in all of my classes the professors actually wanted different prospectives and you got a better grade if you offered one, even is they didn't agree with it.

 

[luvsJack]

My friend works for a state university.

My friend and his colleagues laugh and laugh when mom or dad ( usually mom) calls and gets all indignant about some issue.

Then they remind the parent that the student is over 18 and they cannot discuss anything going on with the student to the parent.

You wouldn't believe the number of parents who flip out over this news.

We get this too, but the student can sign a FERPA form that allows us to talk to the parent. Its just up to the student to do it, though. (OP, you can talk to your dd about doing this IF she wants you to talk to the college)

I will say this though, if a parent called our dean or our v.p. or pres., they tend to get action. Usually by that time everyone is pretty angry and we know that there probably really is a problem, not just something in the student's mind, so we try to fix it. Just yesterday I had a parent calling complaining about the student services office. I didn't transfer her to the dean, but I did make sure the problem was fixed BEFORE it got to him. She was happy, I was happy and my boss wasn't angry with anyone--all is well.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hmmm, that really stinks. I must have raised brats because they will argue with teachers that do that in class.

My youngest who generally will never "cross" a teacher because she is one of those brown noser kids, went round and round with her social studies teacher last yr in 7th grade.

My dd is an atheist and let me tell you when teachers push a religious agenda or a political agenda she will speak up. It is her achilles heel.

The teacher eventually stopped, she suspected that parents complained however she will never know.

It would be next to impossible for either of my dd's to remain silent in that class with your bigoted professor. They would be nuclear and let him have with both barrels.

 

[mhsjax]

Hmmm, that really stinks. I must have raised brats because they will argue with teachers that do that in class.

My youngest who generally will never "cross" a teacher because she is one of those brown noser kids, went round and round with her social studies teacher last yr in 7th grade.

My dd is an atheist and let me tell you when teachers push a religious agenda or a political agenda she will speak up. It is her achilles heel.

The teacher eventually stopped, she suspected that parents complained however she will never know.

It would be next to impossible for either of my dd's to remain silent in that class with your bigoted professor. They would be nuclear and let him have with both barrels.

You raised your daughters right.

 

[castleview]

I would contact the Dean of the department. This is not professional behavior.

This. I remember my Poly Sci and English (my major) profs having opinions, but they weren't terribly in your face and were respectful of other people's opinions. Honestly, even in the upper level courses they didn't get so off topic as to bring up their personal politics. This professor sounds like he's missing a few screws or at least on a downward spiral.

 

[castleview]

My friend works for a state university.

My friend and his colleagues laugh and laugh when mom or dad ( usually mom) calls and gets all indignant about some issue.

Then they remind the parent that the student is over 18 and they cannot discuss anything going on with the student to the parent.

You wouldn't believe the number of parents who flip out over this news.

I went to two schools and while one would have laughed in my face for involving the parents, the other school (the one I transferred out of) would only take action if a parent called. Some schools have taken the "they're 18" as an excuse to ignore student's complaints and unfortunately nothing will get done until the parent calls. My issue was a simple bureaucratic issue with my transcripts that a clerk just wouldn't correct because she was "swamped and the supervisor wouldn't do anything about it. This went on for almost a year until finally my father called and said "What's the problem". Boom taken care of.

 

[okeydokey]

When it is time for end of the semester evaluations, your daughter and her classmates should be very honest about what they think.

 

[jodifla]

When it is time for end of the semester evaluations, your daughter and her classmates should be very honest about what they think.

Exactly!

I'd also likely tape the offensive lectures, then after I had my grade, take the tape to the dean.

 

[dakcp2001]

Oh did we learn from the fountain lady thread? Tape it annonymously and put the offensive lecture on youtube. Then send the link to the dean. Haha, I love youtube. Let the public decide his fate!

 

[Agri]

Hi! *waves* I think I know what community college you are talking about.

I've been there - having problems with a prof, that is.

If it were me, I wouldn't say anything if it was a class I was sure I was going to be able to pass. Lots of instructors say stupid stuff and its hard not to take their personal views, well, personally.

If it really bothers her, she could just report it through the proper channels, etc., but she's still stuck with having to take the class.

The only time I've ever reported an instructor that I couldn't deal with on my own was when they were taking out their views on me. I had a bad instructor there once (years ago, he quit after the only semester he taught there), and he was such a hothead that any criticism you had was reflected in your grade. (Legitimate criticism as in: You just made that change to the syllabus today, please do not give us zeros for an assignment we weren't told about.)

I had a teacher who clearly did not understand the subject matter she was teaching, but I was getting an A in the class, so I didn't report her until the end of the semester.

IMHO, school is a learning experience. In the real world you'll have to deal with the same types of idiots that you'll encounter in school. Might as well start learning the best way to deal with it now, as an adult.

 

[luvsJack]

Hi! *waves* I think I know what community college you are talking about.

I've been there - having problems with a prof, that is.

If it were me, I wouldn't say anything if it was a class I was sure I was going to be able to pass. Lots of instructors say stupid stuff and its hard not to take their personal views, well, personally.

If it really bothers her, she could just report it through the proper channels, etc., but she's still stuck with having to take the class.

The only time I've ever reported an instructor that I couldn't deal with on my own was when they were taking out their views on me. I had a bad instructor there once (years ago, he quit after the only semester he taught there), and he was such a hothead that any criticism you had was reflected in your grade. (Legitimate criticism as in: You just made that change to the syllabus today, please do not give us zeros for an assignment we weren't told about.)

I had a teacher who clearly did not understand the subject matter she was teaching, but I was getting an A in the class, so I didn't report her until the end of the semester.

IMHO, school is a learning experience. In the real world you'll have to deal with the same types of idiots that you'll encounter in school. Might as well start learning the best way to deal with it now, as an adult.

But, if she is not learning what she needs for this class it could hurt her in a later class. That is why our administration would take this very seriously. Surely there are other instructors teaching this same subject and, at the very least, she could be changed into one of their classes.

 

[kimmyann]

Thank you all for your input and your stories. It really has enlightened me on the topic. Her & I have discussed it and I suggested she just stick it out. If anything it is giving her a learning experience of how different others views on things can be (even if they are crazy). It may also help her in the future when she has to deal with all of those *wonderful* parents she will encounter while teaching. She seems to agree about this, as long as the guy doesn't go too far. I think it just shocked her.

 

[Agri]

But, if she is not learning what she needs for this class it could hurt her in a later class. That is why our administration would take this very seriously. Surely there are other instructors teaching this same subject and, at the very least, she could be changed into one of their classes.

Here is the thing:

If she feels she's not learning what she should, then she should do what she feels is necessary to make sure she receives the education *she is paying for*. That's the key with college. You are paying for the experience and if you are truly an unhappy customer, you need to let someone know.

In my case, I was already very familiar with the material the class was covering, so I had no issues with the experience. I was getting an easy A for stuff I already pretty much knew. I read through the textbook on my own and felt confident with the material.

Also, with some of the more specialized classes, there isn't another instructor teaching it at the school. Especially with the more specialized social studies and philosophy classes. What class specifically is she taking and what is her major?