Question from a college frosh - Page 2

SingDanceRunLife · 11-06-2009, 12:14 AM

If the answer is still no, then I'll leave it. There's no harm in trying. Honestly, if the answer is still no then I'll wait to take A&P II until the summer because pretty much anyone would be better than my current professor. And since taking the class over the summer at another college is allowed, and happens on a fairly regular basis, I don't see why there would be an issue. Also, in terms of jobs...there's a good chance that I'll get a contract with the nursing school where they'll pay for my tuition there if I work for 3 years. So I'm not worried about getting a recommendation from the dean of nursing at all.

ucsd_ucla_dad · 11-06-2009, 12:35 AM

You're all of a couple of months or so into your college career and you already want your mother to call the school to complain on your behalf? Do you plan on having your mother shepherd you throughout college? Do you expect her to contact the college every time there's something you don't happen to like? Really, you need to handle it on your own and take some pride in doing so regardless of the outcome. It's time to assert your independence and maturity and demonstrate your ability to do so to your mother as well as yourself and you can't do that with your mother contacting the school for what they'll view as a trivial and routine matter and something the student is expected to handle.

You say the prof 'doesn't teach' and told you to learn the material on your own. I suspect there's probably more to the story. What does the prof do in the class while everyone's there if she doesn't teach? Does she just sit in a corner cruising the internet or something? Maybe your expectation of the level of teaching is different form the prof's expectation of the students.

It's not that unusual at the college level for profs to expect the students to bring themselves up to speed on certain material while the profs focus on a different level. This happens in Computer Science courses frequently where the prof expects the students to learn new languages and syntax on their own while the prof focuses more on the theory. It can be frustrating for the student but for those who can handle it, they can come out ahead and learn some important learning skills that'll serve them well in the workplace.

But there are also some profs who try but have difficulty teaching the material. Sometimes it's for simple reasons like the prof isn't a native English speaker and can't be understood and sometimes it's because the prof is operating over the heads of everyone. Regardless, unless there's a 'switchout' option, the student just deals with it and learns the material regardless.

Av8r · 11-06-2009, 12:43 AM

Well, I've had to work with some really awful people in my life too. And if you can find a way to avoid it, especially for a long class, do so. A&P 2 is probably an extremely tough course, I would assume. And you probably feel like you need to learn the material, not teach it to yourself. My 2 cents is that you continue to try to do everything possible to change classes, don't back down, be assertive. If you are unable, drop it and find a way to do it in the summer or elsewhere. I think learning the material is more important than just suffering through the class to get the credit, and it sounds like it may be impossible with the teacher you have.

SingDanceRunLife · 11-06-2009, 12:43 AM

My mom is going to call if I can't convince my adviser. End of story.

And really, my professor told us on the first day of class that she wasn't going to teach. We're 10 weeks into the semester, and she's probably lectured 6 times. We have class 3x a week. We go to class, and she gives us case studies that we work on in groups. During this time, she walks around the room, plays at her computer and may or may not pay attention when you try to get her for help. She hardly answers any questions either (generally she'll say "I can't answer that for you"), and rarely goes over the case studies either. So it's not even that she's teaching us anything and expects us to learn the rest. She gives us the notes that the test will be on, and expects us to just know them. Also, she doesn't have trouble teaching. According to almost all the students that I have talked to who had her last semester said that she's a great teacher. Too bad I wouldn't know because she decided to try a "new approach" (and yes, those were her exact words) this semester, and that approach includes pretty much no teaching.

2Leashes · 11-06-2009, 12:50 AM

Well, then you have some practice. You can apply it to this situation. Over 30 years ago when I was in nursing school I didn't always care for every instructor or procedure. But, I got through it and if anything, it taught me a lesson in tolerance. If you've taken any psychology, perhaps you can apply some of what you learned. It will be a good lesson for the future, whether it be with patients or employers....or ANY relationships in your life.

Now go in there with a positive attitude and find a way to make yourself little tougher.

You posted:

^ I can deal with that. I've worked in childcare and retail, so I'm completely used to dealing with awful people on a regular basis.

2Leashes · 11-06-2009, 01:00 AM

That's the chicken's way out, I'm afraid. In fact, if I were the advisor, this would tend to make me even MORE inclined not to give in and let you have your way. You simply cannot call Mommy or Daddy everytime you need bailing out. This just sets up an enabling situation. Is your mother pushing to intervene? A law degree doesn't give someone license to throw their weight around "just because."

You wrote:

" I'm going to talk with my adviser on Tuesday for pre-registration stuff, and once again try to see if there's anything I can do. If there isn't, I'm going to go ahead and have my mom call. Everyone always tells me to use all of my resources, so I will. "

SingDanceRunLife · 11-06-2009, 01:02 AM

My mom wants me to succeed, and would rather not pay out of pocket for me to take the class over the summer. I didn't ask her to do anything, she said she would. She's darn good too. There have been many times in my life that for me or one of my 6 siblings she's dealt with schools and won. I view her as a good resource.

2Leashes · 11-06-2009, 01:09 AM

When my grown daughter was in college, she came across some real doozies as instructors. In fact, it made even MORE determined to hang in there and get good grades. Her goal was to acquire her Ph.D and get hired by a university where she could show them the RIGHT way to teach.

Well, she never got that particular degree. But, I know it motivated her in school. And, she was also fortunate to have some wonderful professors, as well. Instead of dwelling on the crummy teachers, she focused on the instructors who went above and beyond.

You wrote:

And really, my professor told us on the first day of class that she wasn't going to teach. We're 10 weeks into the semester, and she's probably lectured 6 times. We have class 3x a week. We go to class, and she gives us case studies that we work on in groups. During this time, she walks around the room, plays at her computer and may or may not pay attention when you try to get her for help. She hardly answers any questions either (generally she'll say "I can't answer that for you"), and rarely goes over the case studies either. So it's not even that she's teaching us anything and expects us to learn the rest. She gives us the notes that the test will be on, and expects us to just know them. Also, she doesn't have trouble teaching. According to almost all the students that I have talked to who had her last semester said that she's a great teacher. Too bad I wouldn't know because she decided to try a "new approach" (and yes, those were her exact words) this semester, and that approach includes pretty much no teaching.

And really, my professor told us on the first day of class that she wasn't going to teach. We're 10 weeks into the semester, and she's probably lectured 6 times. We have class 3x a week. We go to class, and she gives us case studies that we work on in groups. During this time, she walks around the room, plays at her computer and may or may not pay attention when you try to get her for help. She hardly answers any questions either (generally she'll say "I can't answer that for you"), and rarely goes over the case studies either. So it's not even that she's teaching us anything and expects us to learn the rest. She gives us the notes that the test will be on, and expects us to just know them. Also, she doesn't have trouble teaching. According to almost all the students that I have talked to who had her last semester said that she's a great teacher. Too bad I wouldn't know because she decided to try a "new approach" (and yes, those were her exact words) this semester, and that approach includes pretty much no teaching.

2Leashes · 11-06-2009, 01:13 AM

My dad is an attorney and also "darn good". Actually, he's retired now. But, I had never felt the need to call him to intervene on my behalf where it concerns an issue I had in school. Oh, he was an amazing criminal lawyer...but I felt it best that he utilized those skills in the courtroom with much more pressing cases.

You wrote:

My mom wants me to succeed, and would rather not pay out of pocket for me to take the class over the summer. I didn't ask her to do anything, she said she would. She's darn good too. There have been many times in my life that for me or one of my 6 siblings she's dealt with schools and won. I view her as a good resource.

calmom · 11-06-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

My mom is going to call if I can't convince my adviser. End of story.

Why did you waste our time asking our opinion? EVERY poster here (I think) told you that it is inappropriate, foolish, counter-productive, and immature to have your mom call in this situation.

I agree with 2Leashes -- if I was your adviser, the call from mom would be the death knell for getting ANY sort of accommodations of any sort on this or on any thing in the future.

But your attitude says the world about why you are having problems with this teacher.

Quote:

There have been many times in my life that for me or one of my 6 siblings she's dealt with schools and won. I view her as a good resource.

This isn't the 3rd grade. What is appropriate in elementary school or junior high isn't appropriate at the college level.

SingDanceRunLife · 11-06-2009, 01:18 AM

I'm not the only one having problems. At least half my class is.

ucsd_ucla_dad · 11-06-2009, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Is it reasonable for a parent to do something like that?

Quote:

My mom is going to call if I can't convince my adviser. End of story.

It sounds like you already had your mind made up so I'm wondering why you posted the question here.

Edit - Cross posted with Calmom.

Pizzagirl · 11-06-2009, 01:50 AM

Quote:

If the answer is still no, then I'll leave it. There's no harm in trying.

There is no harm in YOU trying. There is plenty harm in having your mother try and achieving the reputation that your mom comes in to save you.

If, indeed, this is a problem with the teacher overall, and she really is incompetent and shouldn't be teaching, then true leadership consists of mobilizing the students and presenting concrete evidence of the teacher's incompetence to the powers that be -- not having mom give you a special note out. In my workplace, I would not be impressed by someone who identified a problem, and then their action was just to move away from the problem and let it be other people's problem.

2Leashes · 11-06-2009, 02:02 AM

So, is half the class having their mom call the adviser?

You wrote:

I'm not the only one having problems. At least half my class is.

calmom · 11-06-2009, 03:07 AM

Quote:

I'm not the only one having problems. At least half my class is.

Then why should YOU be the only one allowed to change to a different teacher?