Today, my misery was made complete by the student who told me that teaching is easy because "you just stand there talking about random things that interest you."This remark apparently describes my carefully planned series of assignments, the hours spent researching and distilling the complex history and performance of llama dancing into discussions, lectures with video clips, and incorporating group work and presentations to help them remember these complex issues.
Why do I dread distributing my course evaluations?
Tina from Timbuktu
Doncha just love the smart-asses who criticize things they don't know about? The sad part is s/he won't ever remember saying that stupid phrase years from now and and figuratively kick themselves for it.
ReplyDeleteWorse is if they do remember it. Chances are they'll insist they were right.
DeleteUm, CrayonEater... I hate to tell you this, but I'd be willing to bet that the majority of voting Americans think the same thing about teaching. That's why there is such jealous-hatred of teachers in this country and their evil, evil unions (KILL TENURE!).
DeleteJust the other day, someone told my dad that he was disgusted by teachers who get paid for a year but only work 8 months out of the year....
There is an implication there that goes hand-in-hand with the assumption that all teachers just waltz into the classroom and read from yellowed notes from 1956 or whatever.
That proves my point exactly. :)
DeleteOr, they'll become AdminFlakes who have allowed that world view to become a guidepost for how they interact with teachers/faculty!
DeleteI always feel that my students do not realize what I am attempting to do in the classroom right now. It won't be until later, when they are in another Professor's classroom, or trying to please their new boss at work, that they will finally recognize it. I feel like I am a cartoon in the classroom; there are different levels to my teaching. Not everyone will understand what I am doing, but hopefully they will at least get something out of it.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear. I hope they send you an email when they do realize it. I get one of those occasionally, and it keeps me going for weeks.
DeleteI've been so disgusted with my students this semester that I now do just waltz into the classroom and talk about whatever interests me. I'm a lot happier and have a lot more time for research.
ReplyDeleteI have a colleague who does this- goes in and tells stories for an hour and then tests out of the book. He seems pretty happy, and I think he may be on to something.
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