09th May 2006
way too much power
Was talking with one of my freshmen this afternoon about how her other classes were going and she mentioned that she was worried about her upcoming computer science final. I asked why, only to find out that the material tested was neither in the book nor covered in the lecture, mostly because the final was written by the department. So this poor girl read a textbook and sat through lectures only to be tested on something completely new to her — of course then to fail, as she had no way to prepare for the exams. I expressed both concern and disbelief, but she just shrugged her shoulders — her professor chose not to teach anything tested on the scantron multiple choice exams and while he gave a healthy curve, she saw his out-of-left field exams as just par for the course. Literally. What the hell?
Later on I ran into another student who informed me he was on his way to class and would also be going next week, despite the fact that both classes and finals were over. I asked how his professor could still require attendance and he responded that “He just does.” Any other teacher can’t do this, but get to this level and faculty can and often do go way beyond what you might expect — attendance beyond the end of the semester, exams and papers students don’t understand, impossible reading loads. I’ve heard of, or had them all in my time. I also know that many students need and/or deserve the things asked of them — and that students push the envelope regularly. But how come students and others allow this? Is it thanks to the Dr designation that we can get away with more now than we ever could? (Then again, I had a student’s mother calling and emailing me all last week). What are the differences in the ways I am perceived and treated now, compared to when I taught seventh graders? I can tell you that when I divulge what I do for a living, the response is worlds apart. Professor has much more cachet than middle school teacher EVER did.
Yet both are teachers, and sometimes have much in common even as they diverge. Most people don’t know the differences off the top of their heads, and those perceived differences aren’t the ones worthy of respect — except perhaps having survived the extra years of schooling and completing a doctorate. Interesting to think about — that I am both a teacher and a scholar of teaching, and this idea of scholarship is the part I think that is least understood and most mysterious to others as well as maybe the part I love the most (and, lately, the part I have the least time for as the practicalities of teaching take up so much time…)
Damn ramblings of a wound-up mind. I think I set down to blog something about literature and adolescents. I am hoping to get a summer section of that class to teach (I have not ever taught it but it is a passion of mine) and waiting for the email to hear details and see if I can make it work, see if the person wants me to do it. Would be a special ed tech section of the course, which lets me get ubergeeky all over the place, even to the point of working Buffy into the syllabus.
Oh. The door creaks. Another freshman, freshperson awaits my deep wisdom and reading help!
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