Should I report my teacher?

Mydriasis · 08-27-2009, 06:08 PM

Well... Here's the run down. I've had a total of 5 class days so far.

The first day we did nothing, he handed out a syllabus and explained to us how difficult the course would be. No big deal, sent us on our way.

Over the course of the next 4 class days he has covered 140 pages out of a 360 page book... Which wouldn't be a big deal but this is a very labor intensive course(Logic) that requires a lot of practice. I've been keeping at it as best as I can.

The problem lies here. We have finished 3 chapters of a 9 chapter book and are having a test either tomorrow or Monday(he didn't say when and doesn't follow his syllabus). His syllabus says we should be this far into the course by September-26th it is August- 27th.... Keep in mind this is a 12 week course finishing in December.

I watched some google lectures to try to reinforce what he's "taught", this is when I realized... This google lecturer spent 2 hours at least on the first chapter(a little more than two class periods). If we followed this pace the course would be done in 8 more class days when it's a 12 week course....

He doesn't write anything down, and expects us to copy notes from him talking at a really fast pace. Believe if or not he's wasted 30 minutes of class time telling us we were behind for not reading our books(some people still don't have their books because they were sold out... reasonable considering it's only been 5 fucking class days).

He doesn't give examples, doesn't assign homework and provided any extra resources for us to know if we are getting the material or not. The only means of contact we can have with him is through Text Messaging and a NON-SCHOOL hosted e-mail. The only grades we're going to get are three tests an a final...

Keep in mind I'm on the deans list and in the honors program for my school so I'm not some dimwitted whiny stoner who doesn't study.

I am not a snitch by any means, I never have and never planned on snitching on anyone for damn near anything. but this course costs a nice pile of change(the book alone was $100).

Should I report this guy to the head of his department?
Is there a chance he'd lose his job?
What would you do?

scottishbastard · 08-27-2009, 06:17 PM

I would talk to him first. Explain that "many of the students" are unhappy with the way he's teaching and can't keep up. Tell him that he hasn't followed the syllabis and is skipping way ahead. If he seems indifferent or offended by what you're saying then tell his superiors.
Another thing you could do if you don't want to be confrontational is say "I'm doing okay with this speed, it's a little rough but I can handle it. But a bunch of the students are saying how difficult the course is and how he's not following protocol." This way it won't seem like you're bitching, just standing up for slower students.
Either way, the guy seems like a douche bag.

Mydriasis · 08-27-2009, 06:28 PM

Yeah he is an asshole, he's married and he's always hitting on the girls in class which is super unethical but I try to not be judgemental. He also had a heart-attack and said it wasn't from his diet.... You should see his waist-line...

He also made fun of some kid for typing his note's in class which is just really lame.

Anyways! haha

I agree maybe I should approach him first though, if he shrugs me off I'll probably drop the class and rat. Ask if I can get my money back in full...

Grieves · 08-27-2009, 06:34 PM

It's his class and he will use his methods...As the pupil, things may not make sense but chances are there is some greater plan that the teacher has...Wait it out and let that plan unfold...

tedkennedy · 08-27-2009, 06:51 PM

it doesnt matter what the fuck he teaches, if he is going ahead of the class syllabus which is supposed to dictate the schedule of the class, he is wrong.

take the first "test", see how you do, and then judge whether or not he is an unfair teacher. alot of unorthodox, crappy teachers give ridiculously easy tests so no one complains about how much they suck

Mydriasis · 08-27-2009, 06:53 PM

We're a month ahead of the sylabus right now...

It can't be that easy there's like 4 kids in my class who failed last semester and 10 people already dropped.

my_scatterheart · 08-27-2009, 07:18 PM

It doesn't matter.
As said above it's his class. You're expected to keep up, regardless of what's on the syllabus. I had a psych teacher who didn't come up with any of her own material (all her powerpoints came from McGraw Hill [people who make a lotta texts]), didn't give any legit homework, had ridiculously hard tests in which 3/4 of the class failed, was not helpful at all when you talked to her, and regarding your issue did NOTHING in the order it was stated on the syllabus.
Suck it up or drop.
The Dean, will certainly ask you if you've spoken to your professor before you even begin to get into the details of your problem. And even if you had talked to your prof. first, the Dean wouldn't have much to offer you.
If you're that hard up, talk to your prof. But I think it's a losing battle. You don't dig the way the class is set up, can't cut it, withdraw.

Mydriasis · 08-27-2009, 07:28 PM

I wouldn't be going to the dean... lol
Just the head of philosophy for my school who is also a teacher.

This teacher doesn't use power points or give out any work/hand-outs or anything. Literally talks from the top of his head. Pscyhe was a fairly forgiving class(my pscyhe professor actually recommended me for honors program and I was 1 of 2 people who got an A) this is the most nit-picky semantic class ever.

I have never had a teacher expect a student to learn 1/3 of the course load in 4 days with no application or feed-back.

I decided I'm actually going to talk to the head of the department to see if I can transfer. My mom took a logic class a couple years back and she said she did what we've done over the course of a month or so. So I'm gonna see if I can transfer classes.

Isn't the syllabus almost like a legal thing? My mom said something like that.

Also I remember he said he's going to take time off because his daughter is expecting a baby in November. So I think that's why he's flying through this as fast as he can.

my_scatterheart · 08-27-2009, 08:07 PM

Sorry dude, tired. Thought I read Deanster.
But regardless, the first thing anyone higher up will tell you is to talk to your Prof. first.

-It has nothing to do with the subject of the class, we're talking about the class. And talking off the top of his head? Good. Someone who isn't reading out of a book. Expect you to take notes from his fast talking? Yes. It's a college course. Tape recorder, if need be mang.
The syllabus isn't legal. It's a piece of paper.
All classes differ. Like I said mang, don't think you can hang in, withdraw.

Peace seeker · 08-28-2009, 12:39 AM

obviously hes going through it fast, so he can take time off and be with his daughter in november.

either drop and demand your money back for so and so reasons (the ones mentioned above) or talk to the head of the dept about it and see what he has to say

talking to him (your professor) prolly wont get you anywhere

**SageTree** · 08-28-2009, 07:25 AM

I think the order of complaints has to be teacher first, then dept. Going over his head isn't going to win you any points, just be honest and state your concern.

Mydriasis · 08-28-2009, 09:30 AM

^^^ Exactly what I did today. I asked him why his class was going so fast, and if it was just me. He said this "I'm cutting through the first few chapters so we can focus more on the second half of the course."

A couple kids called him out on being wrong on a lot of his problems. But today was cool cuz we had a review day, but he was really reluctant to tell us what was going to be on the test and/or what we needed to know.

I figure I'll stick through the class, but I feel bad for a lot of people who are going to fail it. There were people confused about what an "argument" was which was like page three.

If I would have been screwed over by his pace than I probably would have talked to someone higher up, but today I realized I actually do understand everything I'm supposed too, I just hope it all sticks until the final. So much for wanting to be a logician haha.

Mafoo · 08-28-2009, 03:38 PM

id see how you do on the first exam, then if needed, talk to the prof. who knows he might throw some insane curve at you all

**SageTree** · 08-28-2009, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Mydriasis

^^^ Exactly what I did today. I asked him why his class was going so fast, and if it was just me. He said this "I'm cutting through the first few chapters so we can focus more on the second half of the course."

A couple kids called him out on being wrong on a lot of his problems. But today was cool cuz we had a review day, but he was really reluctant to tell us what was going to be on the test and/or what we needed to know.

I figure I'll stick through the class, but I feel bad for a lot of people who are going to fail it. There were people confused about what an "argument" was which was like page three.

If I would have been screwed over by his pace than I probably would have talked to someone higher up, but today I realized I actually do understand everything I'm supposed too, I just hope it all sticks until the final. So much for wanting to be a logician haha.

Glad to hear it panned out better than expected, from the sounds of it. I thought his answer was pretty good, maybe you'll feel more knowledgable about the up coming chapter.

Mydriasis · 08-28-2009, 08:11 PM

Thats what I'm hoping!

Last night I just got really high and started thinking about what I should be doing, and I was like "I'm just gonna ride it out, whatever comes, comes."

So thats what I did and everything worked out way better so far than any plan I had made up in my mind.

Life seriously is just like tripping.

mookie · 08-28-2009, 08:13 PM

1.Should I report this guy to the head of his department?
2.Is there a chance he'd lose his job?
3.What would you do?

1.Not yet, first Be sure you are not the only one having a problem keeping up.There should be a majority.
2.Possibly, depends on his status, other concerns.
3.I and my class mates in a college algebra class could not understand a newly hired Indian math instructor . As a group of signees we petitioned to have him replaced. He was fired and were were moved from a class of thirtysomething to an amplified lecture hall of over 400. Sometimes you loose when you win.

Mydriasis · 08-28-2009, 08:19 PM

Dude I had the same problem at the old school I used to go to! if you live in ohio pm me I bet it's the same dude!!!

ChiefBongWater · 08-28-2009, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by Mydriasis

Last night I just got really high and started thinking about what I should be doing, and I was like "I'm just gonna ride it out, whatever comes, comes."

.

lol thatd be a classic sig .

I think its good that you at least confronted the teacher, now he might at least get an idea about his pace. It sounds though that he is skipping through the not so important stuff.... hopefully he'll focus on the next chapters better tho

Mydriasis · 08-28-2009, 11:54 PM

Yeah man, I hope he slows down otherwise I'm gonna get real pissed lol. I think grieves was right though that he's just doing shit his own way. I thought I was gonna have a test today for sure, so I was tweaking.

mookie · 08-29-2009, 02:43 AM

have you had, or will you need to take any statistics coarses ?

love statistics.

oh, the class I was talking about was a long time ago, But India has long prided itself, on it's level of top engineering students and all levels of math instructors. Unfortunately many do not also specialize in english as a second language.