tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post7101660181852963100..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: Instead of Bitching About the Big Thirsty, Here's One From Me. And Yes, I'm Baffled & Thirsty.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-89579685664168610262015-04-16T22:25:23.565-04:002015-04-16T22:25:23.565-04:00FWIW, I agree with all this advice except some of ...FWIW, I agree with all this advice except some of Frod's. If this guy does get tenure, he'll be your colleague for a long time, and if you help him improve rather than simply report him, he may also end up being your ally, if not your friend.<br /><br />You do have an obligation to write it up objectively, honestly and factually. Such an evaluation can and should also include suggestions.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02906546940408742913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-84623954997432163022015-04-16T20:47:34.279-04:002015-04-16T20:47:34.279-04:00Jeez, Frod. Doesn't the hapless newbie get eve...Jeez, Frod. Doesn't the hapless newbie get even one round of feedback from Hiram before Hiram kicks him up the food chain? I think we need to see intractability before we can determine dickhead status. <br /><br />Hiram, I think this guy is lucky to have you as his mentor. I agree with what Cassandra suggested. Another suggestion might be to spend some time discussing how teaching will be Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403289509523215570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-68870773058634610332015-04-16T19:46:22.981-04:002015-04-16T19:46:22.981-04:00Let's face it, Hiram, this guy is a dickhead. ...Let's face it, Hiram, this guy is a dickhead. He also sounds like the kind of dickhead who won't listen to advice from you, no matter how well intentioned or politely given. I agree that senior faculty do have an obligation to help junior colleagues, but if this help isn't wanted, it shouldn't be forced. It would be good if you were to try to tell him what he's doing wrong, Froderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-8719134965730220572015-04-16T16:37:24.551-04:002015-04-16T16:37:24.551-04:00The use of "conspiring" here is meant to...The use of "conspiring" here is meant to be a mix of droll and sad. Not sarcastic. Not ha-ha. Something closer to sardonic, yet not quite. Sorry. I can't think of the word--if there is a word. But I was reminded of going into a colleague's office, shutting the door, sitting down, sighing, dropping my shoulders, gazing at the floor, and whispering, "Well, shit, let'Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-23893743089143296642015-04-16T15:17:11.254-04:002015-04-16T15:17:11.254-04:00Either you want him to stay, or you don't. If...Either you want him to stay, or you don't. If you don't, then begin conspiring with the dean to get rid of him. Otherwise, take him to lunch. A nice place, not McDonald's or TGI Friday's. Listen to him. Be nice. Hold the door open for him. Address him not as "Bob," but as "Dr. Smezzlepoop." Sitting there, drinking a glass of beer or wine, say, <i>"Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-21835781778629036832015-04-16T13:22:32.362-04:002015-04-16T13:22:32.362-04:00Teaching the teachers, baby, it's part of the ...Teaching the teachers, baby, it's part of the deal at a teaching institution. Remember that new TT folks often have incredibly limited experience teaching, and even a couple of classes they have done have probably been under someone else's guidelines. They don't know WHAT they're doing.<br /><br />I like that Hi's place has a mentoring situation in place, because Hi and his Compound Calicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059155949950433688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-40728523900062631442015-04-16T11:24:40.497-04:002015-04-16T11:24:40.497-04:00I would agree that you need to talk to your charge...I would agree that you need to talk to your charge, given that you are his mentor (with whatever 'official' or 'semi-official' status that gives you being invested in making sure this guy makes it to tenure). Teaching is definitely the one part of a t-t job where many people go in with ZERO experience, and then get ZERO guidance on how to proceed ("Okay, you're hired, Prof Poopieheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997969128824319914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-46102921107453704522015-04-16T10:20:28.365-04:002015-04-16T10:20:28.365-04:00I would agree that starting with self-reflection q...I would agree that starting with self-reflection questions is the way to go. Also, I would suggest picking one or two things, the most egregious, to focus on rather than laundry listing. Jonathan Dresnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04356112719229675996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-41891120799415258302015-04-16T08:08:46.366-04:002015-04-16T08:08:46.366-04:00Well, assuming I'm correct in my impression th...Well, assuming I'm correct in my impression that you're at a teaching-oriented place, Hiram, you aren't really responsible for creating the problem (universities which stress research over teaching, even/especially for grad students, are). But you're certainly responsible for helping to solve it (and, to be fair, anyone who actually manages to pursue something resembling a Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-89354852982585204822015-04-16T08:02:03.236-04:002015-04-16T08:02:03.236-04:00He's young, but I wonder how much teaching exp...He's young, but I wonder how much teaching experience he has.<br />The 3rd question is a bit of an "It depends."<br />Are these are ingrained habits of his, or is he new to teaching?EC1https://www.blogger.com/profile/13414931249618049097noreply@blogger.com