My Professor: Getting him fired

[JustHer]

Tell the dean he touches you after class

 

[Oaky]

That's severely problematic given the objective of your thread.

Ethos.

One should always take care to establish and maintain one's ethos, especially when attempting to disestablish another's ethos. Failing to do so is tantamount to spitting on the established conventions of logic, or, just plain stupid.

I've went through a whole process of thought to want to fire him. Why must it be that I have to guide everyone else through it as well? One only takes the details as truth? Or can't they use their logic and imagination to understand how I came to my conclusions. I sometimes feel as if I'm talking to children trying to guide them through my experiences and thought processes.

Tell the dean he touches you after class

Hahaha!

 

[Usehername]

I've went through a whole process of thought to want to fire him. Why must it be that I have to guide everyone else through it as well? One only takes the details as truth? Or can't they use their logic and imagination to understand how I came to my conclusions. I sometimes feel as if I'm talking to children trying to guide them through my experiences and thought processes.

Because if you haven't established your good character and your fair and reasonably accurate perception of reality (or at least narrated your story in such a way as to lead your audience to believe these things), your audience, by default, presumes a lot of things.

Your audience presumes your character to be in line with the whiny immature brats on junior high television dramas. They presume that instead of handling the bumpy events of life with maturity, that you choose to throw your hands in the air and throw a tantrum.

If you fail to narrate a convincing ethos, your audience presumes you're unequipped to deal with adulthood, and that all of the problems you articulate are projections of your own failures rather than a reflection of anything to do with the authority figure which you fail to see eye to eye with.


The way that you now say, "I sometimes feel as if I'm talking to children trying to guide them through my experiences and thought processes," and the way that you failed to provide any evidence when Elaur asked for it suggests that the problem lies with you more than the problem lies with your professor, which is why a lot of the responses are given with that view.

 

[Winds of Thor]

Tell people he's gay.

No--that will only strengthen his position to stay, in an academic environment.

 

[Oaky]

Because if you haven't established your good character and your fair and reasonably accurate perception of reality (or at least narrated your story in such a way as to lead your audience to believe these things), your audience, by default, presumes a lot of things.

Your audience presumes your character to be in line with the whiny immature brats on junior high television dramas. They presume that instead of handling the bumpy events of life with maturity, that you choose to throw your hands in the air and throw a tantrum.

If you fail to narrate a convincing ethos, your audience presumes you're unequipped to deal with adulthood, and that all of the problems you articulate are projections of your own failures rather than a reflection of anything to do with the authority figure which you fail to see eye to eye with.


The way that you now say, "I sometimes feel as if I'm talking to children trying to guide them through my experiences and thought processes," and the way that you failed to provide any evidence when Elaur asked for it suggests that the problem lies with you more than the problem lies with your professor, which is why a lot of the responses are given with that view.

Yes. You're right. The problem lies with me. I'll do my best to fix it.
I'm fully aware of how my posts sound. They sound arrogant, immature and ignorant. Many apologies for it.

To put things in a simpler form:
That teacher is affecting my future. It is on a semester that is really important to me. That teacher is in charge of 60% of my final grades on the three most important subjects in the semester. Even if I work hard the teacher doesn't give good results. The hardest workers in class get results of below average students. These are some of the reasons I want him fired.

 

[Winds of Thor]

Yes. You're right. The problem lies with me. I'll do my best to fix it.
I'm fully aware of how my posts sound. They sound arrogant, immature and ignorant. Many apologies for it.

To put things in a simpler form:
That teacher is affecting my future. It is on a semester that is really important to me. That teacher is in charge of 60% of my final grades on the three most important subjects in the semester. Even if I work hard the teacher doesn't give good results. The hardest workers in class get results of below average students. These are some of the reasons I want him fired.

I had a prof. in college who..required in-class participation as a large percentage of the grade.

Up until the drop date..was nice as pie. Then, the next week, I added to the discussion with a factual comment. That teacher denied my comment with a snide remark, as if the laws of physics were wrong. After a clear trend in hate or disdain from her, I went to the dean. I don't remember the specific point I added, but she hated me obv.

I figured she knew it was open-season to hate those she disliked. And to show it.

Sitting down with the dean, explained that I was about to transfer to the finest art school in the country and didn't need an illegitimate bad mark on my transcript. The dean overrode the damn school rule drop date and let me drop the class. She said that prof. had been having troubles and that she had promised to get her personal troubles fixed in the last 6 mos. Obviously didn't happen.

I didn't stick around to see what happened to her career. Glad not to.



BTW THIS would be entertaining:

YouTube - SAM KINISON IN BACK TO SCHOOL
I'd wait in line to get into that class.


Also I would understand your frustration with this person not being professional. Maybe they engage in Eastern Philosophical crap. Mind games. If it were an Eastern Studies class, then fair game. But it's not. So you are right in getting your money's worth. And this isn't part of what's included. This appears, from what you describe, to be a game of moving the finish line.

Ask the prof. what exactly you need to do to get an A/B/C. Then follow those things to the tee. Get it in writing.

 

[Usehername]

Yes. You're right. The problem lies with me. I'll do my best to fix it.
I'm fully aware of how my posts sound. They sound arrogant, immature and ignorant. Many apologies for it.

I haven't even read past the point where I saw Elaur ask, for the second time, for any shred of evidence to support your position. To expect random strangers on the internet to read dozens of posts in a thread before you get around to communicating effectively rather than taking the extra minute to articulate more information on your own is self-centred. It's a characteristic often found in adolescence. Which is why many older people are presuming that this is your own fault.

This has nothing to do with whether or not you're right, this have everything to do with how you're selecting which information to communicate and selecting which information isn't important.

 

[Oaky]

I had a prof. in college who..required in-class participation as a large percentage of the grade.

Up until the drop date..was nice as pie. Then, the next week, I added to the discussion with a factual comment. That teacher denied my comment, as if the laws of physics were wrong. I don't remember the specific point I added, but she hated me obv.

I figured she knew it was open-season to hate those she disliked. And to show it.

I went to the dean, explained that I was about to transfer to the finest art school in the country. The dean overrode the damn school rule drop date and let me drop the class. She said that prof. had been having troubles and that she had promised to get her personal troubles fixed in the last 6 mos. Obviously didn't happen.

I didn't stick around to see what happened to her career. Glad not to.



BTW THIS would be entertaining:

YouTube - SAM KINISON IN BACK TO SCHOOL

I'd wait in line to get into that class.

I'm dropping one of my subjects with him but I still have two more You are really lucky to only experience the teacher in one subject.

Haha! Nice video. That teacher seems more sane than mine though.

I haven't even read past the point where I saw Elaur ask, for the second time, for any shred of evidence to support your position. To expect random strangers on the internet to read dozens of posts in a thread before you get around to communicating effectively rather than taking the extra minute to articulate more information on your own is self-centred. It's a characteristic often found in adolescence. Which is why many older people are presuming that this is your own fault.

This has nothing to do with whether or not you're right, this have everything to do with how you're selecting which information to communicate and selecting which information isn't important.

Well it's kinda hard for me to show a picture of him or provide some real evidence as this is not real life. If you were in front of me right now I can show you enough evidence to support my claim that he is a really bad professor..

 

[kelric]

Yes. You're right. The problem lies with me. I'll do my best to fix it.
I'm fully aware of how my posts sound. They sound arrogant, immature and ignorant. Many apologies for it.

To put things in a simpler form:
That teacher is affecting my future. It is on a semester that is really important to me. That teacher is in charge of 60% of my final grades on the three most important subjects in the semester. Even if I work hard the teacher doesn't give good results. The hardest workers in class get results of below average students. These are some of the reasons I want him fired.

I know that I (and others) sort of said this before, but there's really nothing you can do here but work hard and learn as much as you can - both about the subjects you're studying and about how to work with people who you may not get along with easily.

Something else... you say that the people who work the hardest (are you sure?) get the results of below average students. Consider that the average grade being a 6 in his courses rather than an 8 with other professors doesn't necessarily mean anything. It doesn't mean that you're not learning as much as if you'd gotten an 8, and it doesn't mean that the professor doesn't respect the work you're doing. He's simply grading on a different scale, setting expectations high enough to really gauge how well you're learning. Take a typical grading scale, where 70% is a C, 80% is a B, etc. Most, if not all students are going to fall within that 30% of the grade scale. That, if anything, prevents a wide-ranging evaluation, decreasing the resolution at which your performance can be evaluated. I've had courses where a 60% was an A - it's humbling, to be sure, when you're used to higher percentage scores - but you can still learn as much (if not more). I know that it's easier said than done when you're the student, but try and focus on learning, and not on the grade you think you'll get. Grades really *do* come, if you focus on the learning.

Now I'm not saying that this guy *isn't* just a jerk. He might be. But he might also be a new guy trying his best. Either way, you need to do the best you can with the situation. Work hard. When it's time for course evaluations, be honest (but not dramatic).

You mentioned that you've tried talking to him. I would suggest trying that again - but do it on his terms. Go during his office hours (or make an appointment - or both). Talk to him one-on-one. *DON'T* focus on how you don't like him. *DO* focus on asking how you can improve yourself and your understanding of the material. *DON'T* "blame" him for the fact that your scores aren't what you expected. *DO* emphasize to yourself, the whole time you're there, on how important it is to treat him as someone you respect and have a lot to learn from. Be mature, even if you don't want to (we all have those moments ). Do not, whatever you do, respond petulantly to *anything* he says. Don't make excuses. It's probably best if you don't mention grades at all - "how could I have done better / what did I omit" is okay. "What does it take to get an A" is horrible.

You may already have done this - but your goal here is to learn as much as you can from him and complete his courses so that you can move on in your curriculum. There's nothing to "win" in a conflict with him. Keep that in mind.

Anyway, that's what I think.

 

[Winds of Thor]

Incompetent people 'hide' in academia. There are lots of competent professors. Those are real teachers.

Some are in academia because they can't make it outside in the real world.

So it's a mess.

You know, this spurns a question: Why is it that Academia is the ONLY place in civilized society where you pay someone, and they remain the boss!?!?!?!?!

That's a crock of communism right there.

The school system is 55 years outdated.

 

[Oaky]

I know that I (and others) sort of said this before, but there's really nothing you can do here but work hard and learn as much as you can - both about the subjects you're studying and about how to work with people who you may not get along with easily.

Something else... you say that the people who work the hardest (are you sure?) get the results of below average students. Consider that the average grade being a 6 in his courses rather than an 8 with other professors doesn't necessarily mean anything. It doesn't mean that you're not learning as much as if you'd gotten an 8, and it doesn't mean that the professor doesn't respect the work you're doing. He's simply grading on a different scale, setting expectations high enough to really gauge how well you're learning. Take a typical grading scale, where 70% is a C, 80% is a B, etc. Most, if not all students are going to fall within that 30% of the grade scale. That, if anything, prevents a wide-ranging evaluation, decreasing the resolution at which your performance can be evaluated. I've had courses where a 60% was an A - it's humbling, to be sure, when you're used to higher percentage scores - but you can still learn as much (if not more). I know that it's easier said than done when you're the student, but try and focus on learning, and not on the grade you think you'll get. Grades really *do* come, if you focus on the learning.

The grading standards of the college is all equal which mean that if I produce equally good work to someone with a different teacher. That person gets a 9/10 and I get a 5/10. That person will then get a higher grade in the course and a higher GPA than me because of this.
The average mark for a student is 7/10 in any subject with any teacher. Not this one. This guy never gave over a 6/10. The top students of the class were really annoyed that their grades were between 3-6/10. Absolutely nothing above a 6. I find it preposterous considering the high imput of effort and quality these students put in.

Now I'm not saying that this guy *isn't* just a jerk. He might be. But he might also be a new guy trying his best. Either way, you need to do the best you can with the situation. Work hard. When it's time for course evaluations, be honest (but not dramatic).

He is not normal... I want to show you him so that when you seem him you'd say, "oh..."

You mentioned that you've tried talking to him. I would suggest trying that again - but do it on his terms. Go during his office hours (or make an appointment - or both). Talk to him one-on-one. *DON'T* focus on how you don't like him. *DO* focus on asking how you can improve yourself and your understanding of the material. *DON'T* "blame" him for the fact that your scores aren't what you expected. *DO* emphasize to yourself, the whole time you're there, on how important it is to treat him as someone you respect and have a lot to learn from. Be mature, even if you don't want to (we all have those moments ). Do not, whatever you do, respond petulantly to *anything* he says. Don't make excuses. It's probably best if you don't mention grades at all - "how could I have done better / what did I omit" is okay. "What does it take to get an A" is horrible.

You may already have done this - but your goal here is to learn as much as you can from him and complete his courses so that you can move on in your curriculum. There's nothing to "win" in a conflict with him. Keep that in mind.

Anyway, that's what I think.

Nothing gets through his head. I said that it was like talking to a brick wall. I'm not exaggerating here. He just can't accept that he's wrong in absolutely anything. I will try and talk to him about improving myself but knowing him, he'll say a quick line and leave.

 

[Winds of Thor]

I'm dropping one of my subjects with him but I still have two more You are really lucky to only experience the teacher in one subject.

She experienced me after that!

So you can get an ENTP or ISTP to do an covert op during the teacher's assistant's office hours. Get another to distract the assistant by asking to show where some professor's office is across the building. Then go in and get a printout. If somebody comes in it could be said one is waiting on the assistant.

A quick look at and printout of their internet browse history ought to reveal if any surreptitious porning has been going on. Take a snapshot of the computer and desk better yet. One shot for closeup too should do. Quick, and that way it's undeniable who's computer it is.

Fired Prof Chased Coeds | Drudge Retort

Then you got your stuff you need to anonymously drop that deuce into the dean, tenure review commitee, and school pres.'s mail, as well as the school and city newspapers.

 

[Oaky]

She experienced me after that!

So you can get an ENTP or ISTP to do an covert op during their teacher's assistant's office hours. Get another to distract the assistant by asking to show where some professor's office is across the building. Then go in and get a printout.

A quick look at and printout of their internet browse history ought to reveal if any surreptitious porning has been going on. Take a snapshot of the computer better yet. That way it's undeniable who's computer it is.

Fired Prof Chased Coeds | Drudge Retort

Then you got your stuff you need to anonymously drop that deuce into the dean, tenure review commitee, and school pres.'s mail, as well as the school and city newspapers.

Haha! Beautiful idea. Unfortunately, he has his office in a room that is usually locked when he's not there. There are also other professors that lurk about in the area of his office.

 

[Winds of Thor]

Haha! Beautiful idea. Unfortunately, he has his office in a room that is usually locked when he's not there. There are also other professors that lurk about in the area of his office.

Uhh..A window-washing crew snapshot of his computer screen?

 

[kafkacat]

drop a few hits of acid in his coffee, he'll have a wacky episode, and it might get him fired. problem solved.

 

[FemMecha]

Yes. My whole class are all pretty much cocky students that think they are Leonardo Da Vinci.

I said before I have had many teachers I haven't 'clicked' with. I wish you all wouldn't judge so quickly if you've never seen him. It irritates me.
I guess that it is in your natures to oppose anything anyone says.

It is entirely possible he is a nightmare. There are professors who cross the line. The problem is that when you state a willingness to use dishonest means to get him fired, you lost your credibility to an outside observer. No one here has seen him in action. No one here has seen you in action except for your enraged comments. This might not fairly represent your position or situation. It is important to realize for future reference that maintaining your own credibility in a conflict is of supreme importance if you are seeking to convince others of your position.

 

[kelric]

Nothing gets through his head. I said that it was like talking to a brick wall. I'm not exaggerating here. He just can't accept that he's wrong in absolutely anything. I will try and talk to him about improving myself but knowing him, he'll say a quick line and leave.

Well, if you're right, and he really does react that way (and I know that there are people who do) there's probably not much you can do. Just do your best and move on. There may not be a perfect answer - but keep your goals in mind (getting an education), and avoid turning it into a power struggle. In this situation, it's one that you can't win, and it'll just sap your energy. In any event, you're only going to have to deal with this guy for a couple more months. After that, be honest on your course evaluation, and move on.

And yeah, what Toonia said.

 

[Oaky]

Uhh..A window-washing crew snapshot of his computer screen?

drop a few hits of acid in his coffee, he'll have a wacky episode, and it might get him fired. problem solved.

lol. No bounds to your ideas hmm?

It is entirely possible he is a nightmare. There are professors who cross the line. The problem is that when you state a willingness to use dishonest means to get him fired, you lost your credibility to an outside observer. No one here has seen him in action. No one here has seen you in action except for your enraged comments. This might not fairly represent your position or situation. It is important to realize for future reference that maintaining your own credibility in a conflict is of supreme importance if you are seeking to convince others of your position.

That was my sense of humour. Bad, isn't it. I'm not ACTUALLY going to frame him or do what I said. I'm a bit more human than that. I personally would just like the dean to see how much we're suffering because of him and to do something about it.
My comments were not supposed to be seen as enraged. Although I do realise how many of the people here see it that way. They were just arguments to people who argued to me. I guess I saw these other people's comments as enraged too. Apologies for how you perceived my comments.

 

[Oaky]

Well, if you're right, and he really does react that way (and I know that there are people who do) there's probably not much you can do. Just do your best and move on. There may not be a perfect answer - but keep your goals in mind (getting an education), and avoid turning it into a power struggle. In this situation, it's one that you can't win, and it'll just sap your energy. In any event, you're only going to have to deal with this guy for a couple more months. After that, be honest on your course evaluation, and move on.

I understand. I'm not the type of person to 'give in' though. It's not easy for me to see my grades and gpa pummeling down and my option chances for two possible careers be lowered.

 

[Winds of Thor]

I see your point. My antenna are feet-long for crap like this that happens way too much in academia where it's the most political of all places one could work.

Academia-a place where right is wrong and wrong is 'right'-Shows how political it is for receiving a good education for your dollars to prevail. Terrible.

This is all believed combining intuition considering what you described.

You wouldn't have the motivation to make up all this. I mean, it's pointless. Typing details like this on a typology website if it weren't real? Experiencing the slurry of unwanted emotions that this has caused you in getting ripped-off from a bad professor! What would you get out of it? Nothing.