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Apr. 5th, 2002 06:12 am
I'll take the F, Bob.
Last night's speech class was a mess.
Dr. Johnson walks in and tells us that normally, he'd spend the class hours lecturing extensively on this unit, but he's fed up with two students who continually interrupt his lectures. It's rude, he tells us, and he's not comfortable lecturing now because of it. Then he tells us to take out our synopses, and calls attention to the section that says there may be "other, unnanounced tests" at any time. He announces that he's tried to correct the behavior of the two individuals in various ways, but nothing has helped; and now he turns it over to us to stop their behavior. Until that time, there will be a test every class session, which will count the same as the midterm. He then hands out a paper which says "Write a detailed summary of Chapter 10, Language."
Ok. I read Chapter 10, but at that moment I was furious to the point of shaking. Had he walked in, said "Ok, class, surprise test!" and handed it out, I'd have groaned and got on with it. But no. He made it perfectly clear that the entire class was being punished for the actions of two people -- two people, it seems, he's not had the forethought to actually TALK to, if my guess on their identities is correct. He made several statements that further galled me, such as "All methods of instruction are valid" (pure bullshit -- I can think of several that are not valid) and my personal favorite, "After 28 years of teaching, I won't put up with such behavior."
At the time of the test, I was under the impression that that would be the entire class (turned out he DID lecture us after the test). So here's what I actually wrote, to the best of my recollection:
So. Was I out of line?
Dr. Johnson walks in and tells us that normally, he'd spend the class hours lecturing extensively on this unit, but he's fed up with two students who continually interrupt his lectures. It's rude, he tells us, and he's not comfortable lecturing now because of it. Then he tells us to take out our synopses, and calls attention to the section that says there may be "other, unnanounced tests" at any time. He announces that he's tried to correct the behavior of the two individuals in various ways, but nothing has helped; and now he turns it over to us to stop their behavior. Until that time, there will be a test every class session, which will count the same as the midterm. He then hands out a paper which says "Write a detailed summary of Chapter 10, Language."
Ok. I read Chapter 10, but at that moment I was furious to the point of shaking. Had he walked in, said "Ok, class, surprise test!" and handed it out, I'd have groaned and got on with it. But no. He made it perfectly clear that the entire class was being punished for the actions of two people -- two people, it seems, he's not had the forethought to actually TALK to, if my guess on their identities is correct. He made several statements that further galled me, such as "All methods of instruction are valid" (pure bullshit -- I can think of several that are not valid) and my personal favorite, "After 28 years of teaching, I won't put up with such behavior."
At the time of the test, I was under the impression that that would be the entire class (turned out he DID lecture us after the test). So here's what I actually wrote, to the best of my recollection:
I refuse to follow the format of this test as a form of protest. To punish an entire class and waste my time over the actions of two assholes is absurd. I will accept the failure of the test with no further complaint.
It is not the job of the students to teach the class, or to police their fellow students. You are the teacher, and if after 28 years you are unable to handle the situation better, the fault lies perhaps in your methods, not us. Their are many methods at your disposal to deal with the problem; your motives in this case are not pure. You are not testing us for any reason other than to punish us.
I have supported your methods and eccentricities to others several times; I cannot support you in this. If you wish me to leave your class over this, feel free to say so.
So. Was I out of line?