Keep your mouth shut and get a grade, or confront?

[TexasBob]

In a class like that, the prof has a lot of room to give grades based on his judgement and not true facts. (Its not like a math class where right or wrong can be proved) A college degree is far more important than setting on person straight. Had a couple teachers over the years that I thought about speaking my peace to, but only did once, freshman year. Lowest grade I ever made in college FWIW. I was lucky though- my really opinionated professors shared my opinion. One was a CHL instructor and used to spend 5 to 10 minutes everyday discussing guns/hunting/2nd amendment rights.

[Snakelover]

I have experienced these kind of professors. They are used to being a very big fish in a little pond. They have created for themselves a tiny world in which they are god and the final word to everything. Challenging them is academic suicide. Samsdad gives them too much credit for open-mindedness. You see, not every liberal is as open-minded and willing to admit when they're wrong as Samsdad!

[sailor]

I would tell him, that if he truly believed that he needed to say something, than he should say it. He should be respectful, and be prepared with facts and data to counter the professors arguments. And when he is done, he should thank the professor for making him think, and although they disagree its better to have good debate than to bottle it up inside. If he handles it like a grownup, not only will his professor respect him, but he will have much more confidence on debating those who he disagrees with. And they both might learn something.

I agree but, I doubt the prof will react as you expect.

[Chew]

I battled it out with two or three communist types at Univ. of Houston. One of them hated my guts but still gave me an A because of my work and because she knew I deserved an A and wouldn't settle for less. The other two grudgingly admitted that I was there best student that semester and gave me my A.

When I called two of them up a few years later to get letters to get into a Master's program, they wrote some darn good ones! Some say life is too short to worry about speaking up, just go along to get along. I say life is too short to not speak up.

[glen]

I have always been one to state my opinion. I think most folks don't mind a different point of view as long as it is brought up in a tactful way. Nothing wrong with stating that you disagree and bring up an educated argument. Can't see if having any bearing on his final grade.

[keep]

As much as I hate to say it I would have to tell him to just get his grade.

[wbhinton]

I have had my fair share of run ins with profs and a couple of department heads. My GPA also reflected this too.

For me it was more important for them to understand my opinions and ideas and positions than it was to appease them. If they had good character then we respected each other more.... if they were beligerant I just pestered them more and more.

Just keep records of every paper, project, test and assignment, they come in handy for future confrontations.

[Legdog]

If we called out every person of authority we disagreed with, life would be pretty miserable.

[TX_Hoghunter]

Staying quite is exactly what the prof wants.....I would tell him to speak up. If it affects his grades thats when he goes to the dean......Of course I may not be the best one to ask....I was ask to leave grad school after I clocked a prof.....


-john

[Devin]

The PolySci department at Tech has been cursed with such professor's forever. Heck it's probably the same one I had in '89. He was the biggest Carter sunshine pumper and Reagan/Reaganomics critic you could ever imagine.

I just spent my time flirting with the cute girl that sat next to me ....... or simply slept through class.

I do like the idea of going back next semester though.

[hawkusmc]

Like someone said further up the page, it's no longer an education but an indoctrination.
I'd keep my gabber shut, grab the grade, and run like a thief in the night.

[Devin]

Found him.....

[GARY]

What Leggy said....I try and live that each an every day (it's hard though)!

Remember...he couldn't make it in the "real world", so he settled into his own tenured utopia where he can hide.

[grizzlyman]

I had a similiar situation when I started college. The first class that I attended in fact. I had missed the first class on Friday because I was still being outprocessed from the Army. I showed up on Monday, and before the class and asked one of the other students what he had covered on Friday. I was sitting close enough to the front for the instructor to overhear. He asked me where I was. I told him.

The liberal POS starts in on the military. States that he knows all about the military because he was an Air Force brat. I engaged him asking him why he hated the military...did you hate your dad? I made an enemy after that.I should have dropped the class, but I decided to gut it out and sit in the front row every day just to **** him off.

I ended up with a C in that class, but that was one of the most rewarding C's that I ever had.

I take solice today that I'm probably making more than that liberal Poly Sci professor.

TT should have some sort of academic review board to field complaints from students, even though I don't know how effective it would be.

[Jen-Man]

Well I'm not one to bury my head in the sand. If he feels like he needs to debate then by all means debate. That's what makes a man among men. You don't have to argue but sitting idly by has gotten this country no where has it?

Well said.