Profgrrrrl's been talking about a unfair professorial behaviour, which reminded me of an undergrad English course that I took, several years ago. (Incidentally, I took this course with Ky and Marc.)
I was often frustrated with the professor.* He had a meandering lecturing style, to the point that he would veer off topic to something like Waiting for Godot or Egyptian mummies (neither of which were pertinent to the course) and would actually continue that rant into the next session. ("Where were we last time? Ah yes: mummies.") He had set the readings for each session, but I learned that it was usually unfruitful to do the readings, because the chances were too good that we would not discuss those readings during that session. Day after day, we followed his stream-of-consciousness ramblings.
And then, one day, only a few students showed up for class. It was the day before a major holiday. He looked at the small numbers, pulled out his papers and said, "Because so many skipped today, I've decided that today I will cover the material that will be on the final."
Everything that was tested on the final. He taught absolutely all of that in one session, when there were only a handful of us present.
Every single one of us carefully took detailed notes. And we made a lot of photocopies, which we distributed to the rest of the class. You know, to this day I don't know why we didn't make a complaint.
* There was also that incident of the first essay I handed in to him. He gave all positive comments, and said that it was well written and he liked it. But because I used too many secondary sources, I got a D. Oh, and he never told us not to use secondary sources.
7 comments:
Ah, Dr. S.
And that infamous Co-op toque.
Oh, gah!!! I don't understand how people can do this.
Hmmmm...I'm trying for the life of me to remember which class this was. Did we have more than one class together? I'm thinking it was "Genres", 2nd or 3rd floor AdHum overlooking the pit, but I might not even be in the right department.
I don't remember much about that class, other than that the professor was very intimidating and went all over creation during his lectures. Note-taking was nearly impossible.
But then I don't remember the one-class lecture for the final. Maybe it was a different class? (Or maybe I was one of the people missing and this explains my poor marks.)
Sometimes I wonder what I was doing as an English student...
It just occured to me how seldom I talked to you at school, which is odd, considering you are (somehow --- I haven't figured it out yet) related to Dixie. I was shy and, believe it or not, intimidated by you!
Is that the prof that we became friends while talking about, after you didn't invite me to your birthday party? I loved him! I know most people hated him, and he really made me mad the first day of classes, but it was so fascinating to watch him go in class, and I really worked hard to get an A from him. And he helped us become friends. :)
gramsey: No, it's not Dr. S. Dr. S. was more on-topic, and far far more merciful, than this guy. (I meant "English lit," not "English history.")
marc: Yeah, it was the genres class, and I'm pretty sure you missed that session. I remember giving you a photocopy. He covered all of the Northrop Frye genre theories in one session, which was almost entirely (if not absolutely entirely) what was tested on the final.
And Marc, I'd always assumed that it was my fault that we didn't talk to each other much, because I was horribly shy and intimidated by you! Especially because you were a boy, and especially because you seemed so clever. (By the way, Dixie and I are second cousins, once removed. She and my mom are second cousins, and her dad and my grandma are cousins.)
arimich: I know that you loved him. And he was someone that I got along with, otherwise. But, within that course, he also did a bunch of things that I know you disagree with, as an educator.
I loved that class, too, even though he did the same thing to me too about the secondary sources, thing.
The crazy thing is how much I actually find I learn from the stream-of-consciousness method of teaching. I had a prof a little like that in grad school, and I think I learned the most from his class.
Well, that's a shame, isn't it? It just goes to show you that it pays to actually talk to a person rather than not talk based on one's perception. Humblest apologies. I'm sure it would have been a pleasure to know you better in person. Alas...
Perhaps one day.
Anyway, I've been inspired to find my notes and papers for that class to see how I did. (Yes, I kept all my university notes.) Perhaps I'll report my findings here, as I'm sure you're dying to know.
(Thanks for thinking I was clever. The truth is, I was probably a dork. Still am.)
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