One rant, and I'll be done with it.
Okay.
I'm sick and frickin' tired of reading all the bullshit comments that professors leave on my papers. They don't want me to write well, they want me to write like they write. I used to try to keep up with all their little rules, but I've discovered something: none of know the rules. They make them up as they go. One professor says no italics. One professor says I must use italics. One says I should never be afraid to bring "I" into an essay. One demands that I must take myself out. I hate it! Listen to my damn message! If you are listening, all the shit you would add on no longer matters and suddenly what's important is how I think.
I'm sick and frickin' tired of reading all the bullshit comments that professors leave on my papers. They don't want me to write well, they want me to write like they write. I used to try to keep up with all their little rules, but I've discovered something: none of know the rules. They make them up as they go. One professor says no italics. One professor says I must use italics. One says I should never be afraid to bring "I" into an essay. One demands that I must take myself out. I hate it! Listen to my damn message! If you are listening, all the shit you would add on no longer matters and suddenly what's important is how I think.
posted by Jesi E. at 12/05/2005 08:51:00 PM
9 Comments:
That'll show 'em!
Also, I'm coming into town on the 10th, so sometime over winter break it would be fun to get together.
Each class is it's own territory with it's own dictator - the professor. For the time you are 'residing' in their territory, you are obligated to follow their laws. Too bad more professors don't follow the standard academic rules of writing...wait, I don't think there are any standard rules...
y'know that prof tha said the army should turn their weapons on their commanding officers...i think we should turn them on the profs...
Yes, it's quite ridiculous that they contradict themselves so often.
Universities in this nation have long since stopped caring about ideas; except the idea that nothing is for certain and that absolutes are dangerous. Ideas are dangerous because they force an individual into a analyze and reflect, and use their own judgement.
Ideas make things difficult, ideas make people uncomfortable, ideas inevitably lead to conflict.
It is much easier and preferable for the weak to concern themselves with regulations, rules, laws, restrictions, and systems than with the substance and validity of ideas; and certainly not aiding students in formulating those ideas into words for transmission to others; this is anti-ideology.
This enemy is not unrelated to others. Where else do we see the substition of "chaos" and "anarchy" for the "stability", "regulation", and "order"?
IT might seem that when I blog here that all my writings carry a similar message; that perhaps I am obsessed with certain concepts and falsey see them prevalent in all areas of life; like a mystic sees every act explainable through the supernatural.
There is trend in our educational institutions over the generations, a trend that always precedes the larger cultural trends.
I have experienced a professor of 30 years break down nearly in tears at the state of things in academia; that for all intents and purposes he was no longer allowed to teach his students, merely babysit them through a semester of watered down trivia. His days were spent attempting not to offend students with ideas out of the mainstream (majority). In many cases he found it impossible to flunk students who made no effort.
This was no an isolated incident, it exists all over the nation, and all over the world. When ideas do emerge from universities, it is because of an overhwhelming desire by students for truth on a particular issuel; an issue that not be easily ignored, or swept under the desk. The professors and administrators believe because they are "respected educators of the world" that they should be capable of providing that truth but it is not within them to look for it. What emerges is falsehood designed to appeal to the audience; afterall these men feed off applause and "respect".
Look at your university. Tell me...on what issues do your faculty make the greatest effort to stand? Religion? I hear tolerance. Race or culture? I hear multiculturalism. On government? I hear "Democracy is the answer". (whatever the majority says, very undecisive) But what issue has caused more controversy in the population of the United States than any other in these last few years? The answer is Iraq. Students are flustered with information and opinion on this media-cenetered subject and they demand education from the educators. What is invented is crafted to console what they consider the best virtue within themselves, and that which speaks the same to the majority. "It is not the fault of citizenry that government is corrupt (majority), it is the fault of greedy corporations, it is a lack of laws to rule other people, it is not the soldiers fault but of evil men in power ect ect". I'm curious if you've noticed this?
Here is an interesting anecdote. Did you know that the prevailing idea being conveyed throughout universities in Iraq is that it is the Americans who are suicide bombing themselves, killing themselves with IEDS, and sniping American soldiers...all so Imperial America can justify staying in Iraq. It is not Iraqis killing Iraqis or foreign Muslims killing Iraqi Muslims, it is not a criminal filth that is spread throughout Iraqi culture...it is the Americans doing it all. Consolation. Comfort. Escape.
What do you think? Perhaps I am pulling rabbits out of ant hills? Perhaps the chair is attempting to concieve of god.
(Ask a professor how this can be when Iraqis are caught in the act of doing these very things? "Well if the Americans can do it we can do it as well".
I will state first that my university sits in a very strange position as it is located in Oklahoma. Your accusation that the professors look to please the audience, I agree. However, the audience in Oklahoma is very different. On this note, the issue of Iraq rarely ever comes up for discussion. In my 2 years of being in school, I've only heard it come up casually in one class, in a few classes, but only related to how the EU viewed the Iraqi war, and in the class I am currently taking "Politics and Society of Iraq," where I got myself into this situation. However, this last class is very interesting. He seems to pass blame around happily - President, Defense Department, Military, Congress, Chalabi, Media, the insanity (my word) of Saddam Husain, and the attitude of the people of the U.S. He praises the State Department and the Council on Foreign Affairs, and I've never heard him discuss business interests as an issue. Rather, it's students (one or two in particular) who seem to think it's greedy corporations who are responsible. And I finished my final class period, so I know that will never come up as a topic.
I suppose, in addition to my above statement, this is why I enjoy my major so much. International and Area Studies classes are composed of studying reports that are released by government agencies, academia, non-government organizations, and media sources. From this collectual of general factual, though usually somewhat biased, information, students write essays. And what I love about IAS professors is they have the tendency to focus on the ideas. Beyond that, they are very experienced at recognizing the effort behind the thought, not necessarily the "correctness" of the thought. This may seem detrimental, but it's quite beneficial. When you're dealing with politics, I certainly do not think that my professors are qualified to tell me that I am wrong. I don't think anyone is. Is the argument laid out correctly (based on evidence formed in a manner that naturally leads to the conclusion, but not so obvious that it is unoriginal).
My frustration comes from History classes, which are required for parts of my major. The two times I've taken History courses, professors are tyrants when it comes to form. Seriously, who the hell cares? Comp I was this way. Fortunately, my Comp II prof was not.
I completely agree, however, with the statement that professors are restricted from challenging their students. I think it's a mixture of a couple of different things. I think there is pressure from students to make classes easier, I think there is pressure from faculty to keep numbers at an attractive level, and I think other professors do not want one professor raising the bar so everyone else has to teach better. Beyond that, I have a hard time finding a professor who has any concept of how to raise the bar. They themselves are unwilling to do the work. They put out extraordinary expectations and then come to class unprepared, return work late, and keep shoddy track of grades.
More to come... maybe
Unfortunately, It doesn't get better after college. Your professor's contradictions will be mirrored by your future bosses. Until you own the world, you will face this problem
Yes, Spank Daddy, that is exactly what I fear.
Also, You attempt to use I less and use The Great & Powerful Snausage more.
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