| Subject: A Student Evaluation of me |
Author:
David
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Date Posted: 11:51:46 07/27/05 Wed
Hi,
Since some of you are former students of mine, I thought you might be interested in a Student Evaluation I received after the 1st 4-week term this summer. It was SOC 204. The student who wrote this got an A- in the class...including 25/25 points for this AP2. I asked them to evaluate themselves and then the course/me. As you know, I want to give the full credit for this type of AP...if a serious job has been done on it. Again, while I thoroughly disagree with the assessement of me and the course, the student DID do a serious job and thus, got the full 25 points.
To put it bluntly, this is the most thorouogh hacket job ever done on me. After finishing all grading and turning them in, I wrote back to the student. I haven't heard back, but...however, I was notified yesterday that a complaint has been made. Although I've not yet been informed whether it's a Formal or Informal complaint...nor been told the name of the student, I highly suspect it's the same individual who wrote what you're about to read.
So, I'll include the student's "evaluation" of me and my email response. I'm not looking for "support," per se. Guess I feel I need to tell someone...especially since most of what the student wrote is an ad hominem attack on me. So, here goes...student evaluation first...then my email response. (I have, of course, removed all references which could lead to the identity of the student):
"Class Evaluation
In response to how well I thought the class was conducted, I must say that I was disappointed. The class seemed to be taught with mixed messages and a cavalier disregard for any self-control on the professor’s part. Although I empathize with the idea that certain things that are deemed unworthy for the classroom are just products of our socialization, I also believe we should be respectful of people who find such things offensive. For example: it is not professional for a teacher to use such language as “fuck you” and to let their political, religious, and philosophical biases permeate the lecture. Such spontaneous ranting and crude vocabulary does not provide me with an image of a knowledgeable and disciplined teacher, but of an impulsive and sophomoric adolescent.
I found there to be a conflict of interests when the teacher implored us to “bracket” our own predispositions so that we might be more open to the ideas of sociology. This idea in and of itself was fine; however, when the teacher takes such an opportunity to teach more about his own opinions than the actual subject matter, I become disturbed. Now, I do not intend to say that a teacher is not entitled to his own opinions; however, I do believe that such views should not be presented within a lecture, but rather in a seminar format, which puts the teacher on an intellectual level with the students. And as always, I do believe that it is necessary to demand everyone use intelligent and respectful language to express their ideas.
For the first two weeks of class, our time was spent discussing the key sociological topics we were going to discuss, but we ended up on so many tangents that we never actually dove into the subject matter as we should have. Sure, we defined terms such as “critical”, “radical”, and “ignorant” but all of these were preparatory material so that we would be able to tackle the real substance of sociology, which we were barely introduced to (only within the last week and a half). I believe it would be prudent to set aside time for a lecture, which would follow a predetermined schedule, without room for tangents, and to set aside time for seminar, which should be allowed in a sociology class of all places.
In conclusion, I believe that the course material has much more potential than is being used, and that if the structure of the class were changed, it would remove the hypocritical and contradictory aspects of the present class. Also, the teacher must also show more restraint and respect when choosing his language and topics for the classroom. I understand that certain vocabulary is frowned upon by our socialization, and the use thereof is only an example to show this concept; however, this can only be taken so far. When this rational is used as an excuse to disregard and self-discipline, even when the teacher has been warned in the past, it is clear misuse of power."
MY EMAIL RESPONSE
As we all are...you're entitled to your perspective, but so am I. I'm not going to get into a point by point defense...I really don't think your "critique" is worthy of it. I was quite dismayed at your Class (and me) Evaluation...I expected something a bit less shrill and formal logical. The truth, from my experience and perspective, is that your words were ad hominem, offensive, and displayed an almost total lack of understanding of what I did or why. But, be that as it may...you obviously disagree and believe it or not, I can and do respect that. However, respecting your point of view doesn't mean I think it's accurate. There are lots of things I could zing back at you and I've covered them quite well in my thinking since receiving your comments. Your name-calling and total dismissal of my efforts are grating, for sure. But as I said in my email reply, I've heard it all before and I don't really have time or the desire to refute your own rather sophmoric and judgmental perspective. Suffice to say, I've been at this teaching business longer than you've been born and my evolution as a teacher is quite satisfactory to both myself and many, many students. But I will add a couple observations:
1. if political views, etc. don't fit into an Intro Sociology class, I'm not sure where they do. Did I test you on my views? No. Did I ask you to think and/or believe like me? No. Truth is, you have a standard which is unreachable...value-free-ness is a myth and always has been. At least I put my values out front from the start. Expressing them doesn't mean I haven't or aren't bracketing. Your A=A logic is showing.
2. This was a Summer course...a concentrated timeframe...which is difficult at best in which to cover everything. It was also at 8 in the morning and finally, is a bit more loose than a regular quarter course.
3. 204 is the intro to the introductory sociology sequence...and as such, doesn't get into the many areas apparently you would have liked to delve. I endeavor to introduce the sociological thinking process and to provide an example of using it. 204 should prepare students to be able to better assess the many substantive concerns...like stratification, racism, deviance, institutions, etc....if and when they take further sociology courses. This is 204's purpose and exactly what I accomplished this summer. If these areas interest you, I suggest you take 205, 206, and any other sociology courses available.
4. Well...about my language, etc. What are you...a member of the "morality police?" Your insulting comments...presumptious to say the VERY least...reveal far more about you than they do about me. The rigidity they and you exhibit is appalling to me...especially from a guy so intelligent and well-read as you. Yes, I was and still am very impressed with the breadth of your knowledge and at times, understanding. However, the depth of this knowledge is questionable, to me. You "know" alot and you didn't hesitate to exhibit this knowledge to me and everyone else in the class. By the way, I'm not the only one who went on and on...off on tangents. You held the floor many times...often in directions other than where I or we needed to go. But, I gave you (and anyone else, for that matter), free rein to express yourself. Do I stray? Certainly. But as many have told me, the straying is often the best part of the course and my approach. But, back to the language...my use of language is calculated and constitutes a miniscule % of the words I utter in any course. Just because you took offense doesn't mean your critique is accurate or even relevant. I'm sorry, empathetically, for offending you. But I do not and will not let others dictate what I do in a class or how I do it. I know what I'm doing and I really don't need your moralistic input. You're entitled to it, though.
Well, I see that I did somewhat what I said I wasn't going to do, but alas, I guess I wanted and needed to say a few specific things. Oh well, huh?
So, if you'd like to talk about any of this face to face, I'd be glad to meet with you. If not, that's okay, too. I don't expect that this email will change your mind about anything. But do consider this...would you have written the same thing to a teacher you knew NOT to be as open-mindedd as me? I doubt it. At least you learned one thing this summer...there are people who can see through the smoke and past the mirrors when it comes to your perspective.
I look forward to future communication, if any. If not, good luck in your college progress and learning. Again, you are a very bright guy...but I think you need to drag out of the corners some of those assumptions about others and how some things should be done, especially in a class and particularly at this time in our society.
Regards,
David H. Kessel
So, what do you think, if anything? You can, of course, reply on the Board...or to me privately.
Thanks for listening and reading,
David
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