My english teacher is a raving leftist - in class!

[Caligastia]

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. At first she was just reading an article from the New York Times. She began by heartily agreeing with the author's militant leftist viewpoint, and eventually got caught up in her own rant.
She kept a 2 1/2 hour class 10 minutes late because she felt the need to share these pearls of wisdom:

"You can trust the liberal media when you want the truth, the New York Times is one of New York's greatest resources for honest journalism"

"We need presidents that tell the truth - Clinton told the truth!"

"Forget the war on terrorism, forget tax cuts, look at the economy!"

Is it just me, or is this a tad inappropriate?

 

[Toasty]

We're all subjected to the bombardment of political views from our teachers, especially from English/History teachers. It's just a fact of life, and personally, I enjoy having right-leaning teachers in these classes--they're just too fun to annoy .

Don't worry, if you were excused for being late what's the bother?

 

[Caligastia]

Excused for being late? I wasn't late, she was! She made us stay an extra 10 minutes while she spewed her garbage.

I think its totally unprofessional.

 

[Toasty]

I presumed that you had another class after English ?

Anyways...she's still human. The fact that she wishes to discuss with you her political views, regardless of how you might disagree with them (I'm presuming you do), is a sign of closeness. Be thankful you got a day off from class .

 

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Toasty
I presumed that you had another class after English ?

No, and considering that class was supposed to finish at 8:30pm I (as were my fellow students) was ready to go home.

Anyways...she's still human. The fact that she wishes to discuss with you her political views, regardless of how you might disagree with them (I'm presuming you do), is a sign of closeness. Be thankful you got a day off from class .

I wouldn't call it a discussion, more like a soapbox rant.

What makes you think I got a day off from class??

 

[Toasty]

Originally posted by Caligastia


No, and considering that class was supposed to finish at 8:30pm I (as were my fellow students) was ready to go home.


I wouldn't call it a discussion, more like a soapbox rant.

What makes you think I got a day off from class?? [/B]

That class in particular. Whatever.

The point is, you don't need to be upset about it. It's all good .

 

[Caligastia]

No its not, it sucks. I had to waste 10 mintes of my time listening to that crap when I could have been on my way home.

 

[scorch]

would you have had a problem if it were a right winger???


I personally like it when teachers are political.

 

[amadeus]

Political agendas shouldn't be part of ANY teacher.

 

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by scorch
would you have had a problem if it were a right winger???

Probably not as much, because it would have been more in line with my views, but I still would have thought it inappropriate.

I personally like it when teachers are political.

I wouldn't mind so much if there was a discussion involved.

 

[Furry Spatula]

Caligastia, you have nothing to complain about. I am just about done my sociology 150 class in my university. This class invovles brainwashing, not teaching. Our professors opinion is fact in this class. She makes up stupid excersizes to prove her point. If you point out she made a mistake, she says it doesn't matter just look at this. So that class is a waste of over $400. But it is easy credits, the only problem is that it is bad for my blood pressure and stress. They tend to go up in that class as I am so disenheartened to see someone spouting out so much utter S*it.

 

[allan2]

Raise your hand and ask her, in a professionally respectful tone, "Pardon me, but just what does this have to do with the subject we're covering this class?" I did just that once in a similar situation, and the prof got back on track. If it doesn't work, go see the dean and explain your concerns about not getting your money's worth from that professor.

I assume this is college you're talking about, and college is NOT high school. You are all adults in college, and the rapport and respects between you and your professor should be as equals--he is doing you a service (teaching a particular subject) in exchange for your pay. Now professors KNOW this, so if you present your grievances intelligently and respectfully and FROM THAT POSITION, he or she should respectfully handle the grievance. If the students are cowed, then the professor will take advantage of that, as a lot of people would.

As for the 10 minute overtime, I would probably have said at the time of scheduled class end, "Excuse me, I have to leave now, as I have a tight schedule between end of class and a prior engagement"--whether I really had a pressing one or not, I might consider "getting home at the normal time" to be an important engagement, and I'd be entitled to that.

Again, I'd be respectful, but firm.

And no, a teacher's job is NOT a platform for political speeches. That's not what your hard-earned tuition money pays for.

 

[willemvanoranje]

Originally posted by Furry Spatula
Caligastia, you have nothing to complain about. I am just about done my sociology 150 class in my university. This class invovles brainwashing, not teaching. Our professors opinion is fact in this class. She makes up stupid excersizes to prove her point. If you point out she made a mistake, she says it doesn't matter just look at this. So that class is a waste of over $400. But it is easy credits, the only problem is that it is bad for my blood pressure and stress. They tend to go up in that class as I am so disenheartened to see someone spouting out so much utter S*it.

so is she left or right-winged?

I like it as well when teachers start talking about their politic views, indeed especially in history and dutch (native language, for tohers I'd be english, german, whatever) class. Our dutch teacher always says what he says doesn't have to be what you believe, but in history class it's different, and then it's always fun to counteract.

 

[allan2]

Originally posted by willemvanoranje


so is she left or right-winged?

Doesn't matter if she's libertarian, to me. If that were the case (she being libertarian), I would likely agree with most of what she said, but be embarrassed for "my cause" that she's using the bully pulpit of the professor's podium inappropriately, and frankly, unfairly, to promote it. It would make my cause look bad, in a way.

I like it as well when teachers start talking about their politic views, indeed especially in history and dutch (native language, for tohers I'd be english, german, whatever) class. Our dutch teacher always says what he says doesn't have to be what you believe, but in history class it's different, and then it's always fun to counteract.

I have nothing against a political DISCUSSION in class (as long as it relates to the topic I'm paying to learn about), but what the original poster on this thread described sounded more like something I occasionally saw in my own classes in college: the professor giving a MONOLOGUE about his or her political beliefs. Now it is an unwritten rule that the professor has the floor unless he yields it, a convention established so that he could lecture on the subject of the class without interruption, whenever he felt he needed to present the material that way. However, taking advantage of that convention to hijack the class subject into an unrelated and wholly subjective political speech is inappropriate and irresponsible on the professor's part, and is also unprofessional. It boils down to not honoring the tacit agreement to teach the subject paid for, i.e. not rendering contracted services.

 

[Juize]

Political agendas shouldn't be part of ANY teacher.

Amazing, we've found common ground!

 

[willemvanoranje]

Originally posted by allan2

Originally posted by willemvanoranje


Doesn't matter if she's libertarian, to me. If that were the case (she being libertarian), I would likely agree with most of what she said, but be embarrassed for "my cause" that she's using the bully pulpit of the professor's podium inappropriately, and frankly, unfairly, to promote it. It would make my cause look bad, in a way.


I have nothing against a political DISCUSSION in class (as long as it relates to the topic I'm paying to learn about), but what the original poster on this thread described sounded more like something I occasionally saw in my own classes in college: the professor giving a MONOLOGUE about his or her political beliefs. Now it is an unwritten rule that the professor has the floor unless he yields it, a convention established so that he could lecture on the subject of the class without interruption, whenever he felt he needed to present the material that way. However, taking advantage of that convention to hijack the class subject into an unrelated and wholly subjective political speech is inappropriate and irresponsible on the professor's part, and is also unprofessional. It boils down to not honoring the tacit agreement to teach the subject paid for, i.e. not rendering contracted services.

I was talking about Hitro's prof.

And to that other thing, you're right, a monologue is bad, but then, I don't give them the chance to keep it a monologue.

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
Political agendas shouldn't be part of ANY teacher.

True, but utopic.

My politics teacher was a liberal (in the European sense) for example, and he didn't even try to disguise his efforts to influence students with his opinion.
Seems to be normal, unfortunately.

But there have been other examples, teachers who had a clear opinion (which in itself is no problem, of course) but always did their best to ensure an evenhanded way of handling the topic.

 

[G-Man]

I don't care when teachers express political views. A political argument is one of the best ways to pass time... Atleast my English teacher can't express any political views - she doesn't know english good enough. Quite pathetic, isn't it?

 

[MrPresident]

Is it just me, or is this a tad inappropriate?

Not that I want to accuse you of anything but before I call something inappropriate I generally like to hear the other side of the story. She may have had very good reasons for doing what she did or she may not even have done what you claim she did. Either way I'll refrain my commenting.

Political agendas shouldn't be part of ANY teacher.

This is like saying no one should go hungry. Of course they shouldn't but they are and they will. Teachers are human and there is nothing you can do about that (except maybe invent robotic teachers). In fact I don't really see the harm in it as long as the teacher allows debate.

 

[onejayhawk]

Rent The Prime of Miss Jean Brody. Nuff said. Although it is amazing that someone found a topic everyone agrees on.

J