(no subject)

[neytaritook.livejournal.com]

Gah!! Just got back from an English/critial thinking class. The first hour was nice. The guy is not demanding, he seems reasonable, and all of our essays and papers will be written on the media (which is a topic of interest for me).

The second hour was like Michael Moore 101.

He went down a list of falacious arguments and every example was either an attack on the Bush administration, consumors, or the free market. He also managed to insert his oppinion that Global Warming is probably true and that "Super Size Me" (imho an example of propaganda) is a good factual documentary *bangs head on desk* I'm going to dieeee....

Any pointers on surviving class discussions? I had a vocal liberal history teacher last sem, but this guy was more obnoxious in one hour than she was the entire semester :-|

Comments

[phoenix-starr.livejournal.com]

Well, how much do you want to jeopardize your grade? (Remember you live in the real world even if he doesn't, and in this real world you are in HIS domain in that class.) If you get into political crap with them you run the chance of being flunked. The safest way would be the Garbage in Garbage out method of dealing with him. If you think that he would allow you to express your opinion in his domain then go for it, otherwise I suggest you tell him what he wants to hear. Then if you really feel the need you can tell him AFTER he's submitted your grade and you got your report card what an idiot he is. I know I'd be VERY hard pressed to keep my own mouth shut. Most like I'd wind up getting flunked out. Then I'd sue the college. ::smirks::

[sopdetly.livejournal.com]

Hm, see, I say the exact opposite (see below). Hee.

[phoenix-starr.livejournal.com]

If you think that he would allow you to express your opinion in his domain then go for it,

I'm too used to dealing with the insane type of Liberal, so of late it's just easier to assume they all are.

[ladyrogue79.livejournal.com]

If you get into political crap with them you run the chance of being flunked.

As sad as it is, this has happened before in schools in California. It disgusts me so much that teachers can flunk students just because their beliefs and opinions don't coincide with their own.
Of course, if a conservative prof tried to do that, the liberals would be jumping all over them about it.

[neytaritook.livejournal.com]

That is (there is no other word for it) discusting. Makes me ashamed to be a Californian.

lol!

[neytaritook.livejournal.com]

Well, it's supposedly a discussion class, but I'm gonna feel out the guy before I speak out....Yeah, I want a good grade. *sigh* I'll just rant on LJ when he says something especially crazy ;-)

[phoenix-starr.livejournal.com]

We'll be here to console you.

[sopdetly.livejournal.com]

AcademicBias.com (http://academicbias.com/). Other horror stories, tips for dealing with them, opportunities to get into a movie :D

The last English/writing class I was in, my prof was a liberal, anti-war lesbian. This was the spring of 2003. You do the math ;) She was pretty obvious in her bias, and she too would somehow work that bias into assignment examples and such. But luckily, she allowed discussion, and I didn't suffer for sharing my opinions. But she kept me on my toes, and I learned exactly when to speak up and when to shut up. It could have been worse...but it should have been better.

A friend I'd met in Geology class the previous semester was also a Repub, and she had a very liberal prof in a subject that related even less to politics...and a class that was just content to nod along and agree with whatever the prof said. She wasn't gonna stand for that, and often ended up arguing with him for most of the class. But she decided he seemed pleased that a student was participating, even if she had kwazy konservative idears.

So, don't be afraid to speak up -- even to ask how global warming relates to the subject on the syllabus. You'll either find that the prof was looking for reasonable debate and is respectful, or they'll take the hint and stick to the coursework...or they'll hurt you academically, and then you start taking actions. But you definitely shouldn't just sit there and seethe quietly.

Keep us posted on the class, and if you need help with anything, I'm sure someone will have info for you! :)

[neytaritook.livejournal.com]

Hehe, why can't I seethe quietly? >.> <.< ;-)

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

My advice is you have to be like a good general...know when and how to choose your battles. If a professor spends too much time off-topic or forces you to do something you don't want to do (even for "extra credit") or requires you to agree with him, then it's time to go to the department head or the dean. Otherwise, if he's making occasional asides, just blow it off. It's irritating, but you can always vent here and really, it's just a semester, not an eternity.

Of course, as a student, you must also have some common sense. Some classes by definition are there to indoctrinate and push a particular ideology. For instance, women's studies, "peace" studies, any kind of ethnic studies, etc.. You're guaranteed a radical professor who wants you to see life his/her way or else.

Some professors are looking for a debate and wouldn't mind arguing with someone who disagrees with them. Frankly I admire anyone with the backbone and poise to go toe-to-toe with a professor's arguments. Not many young people have that yet because many are still forming their views and because they are still young enough to trust in the authority of their teachers.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

Students for Academic Freedom (http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org/). Check it out. They really want to help students battle bias, and if nothing else, seeing other people's horror stories is comforting. Misery loves company, after all.