<p>I’m a student in a relatively small department at a public college. Recently, the topic of human sexuality came up in class, and the professor made some, IMO, outdated comments–referring to “the gays” and saying that sexual orientation is a choice. He wasn’t saying these as a reflection of previous views or as a hypothetical opinion and frankly, they made me a bit uncomfortable. Was I being overly sensitive ? What, if anything, would be the best way to address this? Because it’s a small department and I’m likely to have this professor again, I didn’t/don’t feel comfortable trying to “correct” him.</p>
<p>Unless it’s the subject of the class, I’d just let it slide. As you say, it’s not your place to “correct” him. In a different setting, absolutely. In this one . . . I’d just let it go. :(</p>
<p>Yeah, I agree to let it go. Maybe they were just having an opinionated moment that got the best of them. (I’ve found that those happen a lot with profs. They somehow get started on something they’re passionate about and get kind of deeply sidetracked). </p>
<p>Just wait and see if it happens again. If it becomes a kind of pattern, then maybe you can consider talking to them after class and explaining how it makes you feel uncomfortable. If nothing else ever happens, then they just got carried away.</p>
<p>I’m sorry. I disagree. It is inappropriate for a professor to be opining about sexuality and related issues in a class that (I assume) has nothing to do with sexuality.</p>
<p>I do agree that you might let it slide this time but I would not let it slide twice.</p>
<p>I guess you have to choose your battles. Not matter how hard you rally against an ignorant position, you’re not necessarily going to make a whit of difference to their POV. It’s up to you to decide how often and how vigorously you are going to fight the battle.
There is no one “right” position on what to do here. You have to decide for yourself where the line in the sand lies.</p>
<p>If you decide to go talk with him about it, now or later, try to go with a small group of other students similarly concerned. You’d have to talk about things outside of class to see if the same comments also bothered them. Do you have that kind of rapport with others in the class? </p>
<p>Strength in numbers, and less chance he’d hold the critique against you personally.</p>
<p>Just last week, my HS daughter experienced a similar situation with a substitute teacher in her gov’t class. She called him out on his comment and also pointed out that as a teacher, he was not legally permitted to voice such opinions in the classroom. Ah, a mom’s dream-child.</p>
<p>I don’t know what the protocol is in college but I would think that, at the very least, you could respectfully ask the professor to support his assertion that “sexual orientation is a choice.”</p>
<p>I find his comments shocking. I would lose respect for him. Depending on what he teaches, his credibility would tank with me as well. </p>
<p>But as far as what to do, besides avoid him as much as possible, I don’t know. How is he as a teacher otherwise? I would probably let this one go but be paying attention to what he says and see if he has any other crank opinions. If he makes a habit of saying stuff like this, then come back and let’s figure out how to complain. </p>
<p>Write up the incident in the prof rating site.</p>
<p>I’d just chalk it up to a roll your eyes moment. Science is against him, and public opinion is changing so rapidly that his view of sexual orientation being a choice will soon be held only by a very small minority of the population. His opinion will soon be irrelevant, and he may already realize that.</p>
<p>If it was an opinion discussion, you should’ve spoken up and countered him. You should’ve made him prove his beliefs. </p>
<p>If it wasn’t, and these are little quips, make a mental note of his stupidity and do your best to ignore him.</p>
<p>
I know teachers aren’t a supposed to be political, verbally racially/sexually intolerant, but that still didn’t stop some if my teachers from being politically incorrect. (Which, to be honest, was better than politically correctness.)</p>
<p>“She called him out on his comment and also pointed out that as a teacher, he was not legally permitted to voice such opinions in the classroom.” </p>
<p>“What opinions are legally forbidden in a classroom?”</p>
<p>In the interest of keeping my post brief, I didn’t think it necessary to detail the whole conversation but…when my husband and I pointed out that the teacher’s remarks, though inappropriate, weren’t illegal, our daughter said, “I know, but just saying ‘you’re wrong’ didn’t seem like it would have the same impact.” In any event, it worked. He kept his opinions to himself for the remainder of the period.</p>
<p>Well, falsely claiming something is illegal just to shut down his free speech doesn’t sound like a way to engage in honest debate. If a teacher says something you don’t agree with, say so, and offer your reasoned counter argument. What’s the worst that can happen to you?</p>
<p>There’s only one possible reply when someone asserts that sexuality is a choice: “If sexuality is a choice, when did you choose to be straight?”</p>
<p>Do you have a campus office that deals with matters of sexual harassment? If so, I’d take this question to them, because, if there is someone gay in that class, that professor has just created what’s called a “hostile environment” and that puts the college in quite an awkward position.</p>
<p>This is the academy. All ideas are supposed to be up for discussion and intellectual honesty is supposed to be a top value. The proper way to deal with it is to state your disagreement in class, if possible, and after class if not, and back it up with facts. The professor can then offer HIS proof. That’s how it works.</p>
<p>Challenging an authority figure is always a difficult call. Many authority figures are seemingly oblivious to facts of life. Some don’t mind being corrected in private. Virtually none are amenable to being corrected in public.</p>
<p>So tread carefully. And be thankful this Professor won’t be a constant presence in your life!</p>