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Lost my job today

Dr. Zaus

Dr. Zaus

Lifer
Short of it:

I said Saturday "I"ll have this in on tuesday" she replied "OK".

Sunday afternoon i get this email saying she needs it on Monday.

i respond with "ok I'll have it Monday evening"

and she responds with a letter talking about how she just can't deal with me any more.

All i want is a rational explanation as to why she would respond by trying to get me dismissed from the program instead of responding with "no, i need it Monday morning"


any thoughts?


Long of it: I'm a teaching assistant working on a PHD, here's how the email went:


HER:
Hi R,



I am getting way too many emails regarding the exam. I would rather you give the grades by tomorrow please. This way I can prepare to address several issues before I leave. Most of the grade is on scantron so hopefully it won't take too long.





Thanks,

O
**

ME:


yep, no problem, I'll be done with it by tomorrow evening, I've got class most of the day.

**
HER:
Dear R,

Actually, I have a problem with getting them to me so late. I have presentations in the afternoon and I have to prepare for Tuesday's class. R, I'm concerned about this. Surely, I didn't use the entire 20 hours last week. I try and make the exams as easy for you to grade so that I can give you time for your classes and so forth. Only two questions require that you even look at the exam. The rest are on the scantron. The exams were given on Thursday 10:35, 1:10 and 5:45. I don't ask for office hours on Saturdays.

We keep having to have this conversation R. My students should not have to wait over four days to know about their grades. This hinders my ability to meet my objectives. I already do not ask that you come in on MWF. You are accessible to my students on TT after 10:35 and by 5:35, you gone. I have asked that you take that time to answer any questions regarding the grades and to take that time and grade their homework, quizzes and exams. I truly don't have any other alternative that I haven't tried to make this work.

This puts me in a terrible predicament since I am a grad student as well. I am copying Dr. M, so that you can explain any special circumstances to him. I truly wanted to avoid any problems or to cause you any problems. I do this only because I have already had this discussion with you several times, I have tried to have you come to my office and do your work, and ultimately I have asked for a set schedule on TT. I don't know what else to do. I'm sorry.

Thank you,
O


*********************


The Irony is that she's got a all but dissertation on a phd in management!
 
well if shes a grad student shes not a prof, just a lecturer or instructor, so tell her to eff herself in the vajayjay
 
This puts me in a terrible predicament since I am a grad student as well. I am copying Dr. M, so that you can explain any special circumstances to him.
Click to expand...

Tell them to pound sand and just talk to the professor who is running the course. If the person you're working with isn't being specific enough about when they want you to finish something then that's their problem not yours.

Seems to me though that there is an underlying problem that is unrelated to the current situation that provoked the reply.
 
You probably should've graded the exams sooner (we usually graded them the day of or at most two days after, with grades coming back by the next lecture). If she's been on you about getting things done faster in the past, then this is especially true.

However, if she asks for something on Monday and gets it Monday evening, she shouldn't complain. She should've asked to get it sooner in the first place.
 
DixyCrat, HIGH FIVE BRO, I quit my teaching assistant job yesterday as well. I didn't get fired though so I won't get an additional one month pay.
It's a typical power trip these people get and they think you as their teaching assistant is equivalent to a slave to them.
A lot of times these instructors cannot handle the "power" given to them and they think they are working in a corporation and can power trip us.

 
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
So, the prof has already asked you several times in the past to grade tests more quickly and you haven't complied?
Click to expand...

yes this.

try doing your work and maybe you won't piss off more people.
 
Originally posted by: Born2bwire
This puts me in a terrible predicament since I am a grad student as well. I am copying Dr. M, so that you can explain any special circumstances to him.
Click to expand...

Tell them to pound sand and just talk to the professor who is running the course. If the person you're working with isn't being specific enough about when they want you to finish something then that's their problem not yours.

Seems to me though that there is an underlying problem that is unrelated to the current situation that provoked the reply.
Click to expand...
She can't handle managing time or people or things... she loses everything so i have to keep backup copies *a laborious task* she forgets anything she's said to me, so i email to confirm any time she's said anything... something that doesn't work except so that i can keep my own sanity when she says "i never said that" and she can not stand students upset with her.

In this case i figure she told the class to email her about the grade but forgot to tell me as much and thus didn't realize that she'd want the grades over the weekend. If she just said "get them to me tomorrow morning" we'd have no problem, but instead she flipped her lid because she couldn't take all the students mad at her.

She is the instructor for the course, she's ABD and got a 1year contract to cover a sophomore quant class.

So, the prof has already asked you several times in the past to grade tests more quickly and you haven't complied?
Click to expand...
Actually no. ONE time in the past i said I'd have a test graded by 5pm and she threw a fit when she realized that she needed it by 9am.

She's got a tendency to forget things she's said, which is why I've kept a record through email.

that one went like this:
HER:
I need those grades

ME:
yep, i know I'll have them by 5pm tomorrow

HER
OK no problem

HER 9:00am the next day
WHERE ARE THOSE GRADES?!?!?!
 
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
So, the prof has already asked you several times in the past to grade tests more quickly and you haven't complied?
Click to expand...

yes this.

try doing your work and maybe you won't piss off more people.
Click to expand...

I said Saturday "I"ll have this in on tuesday" she replied "OK".

Sunday afternoon i get this email saying she needs it on Monday.

I say, OK I'll have it Monday evening.

now is the next rational step to get pissed off or to say "I need it in the morning". If it is to get upset about the situation, do explain why "no i need it in the morning" is not the right course of action.

Originally posted by: esun
You probably should've graded the exams sooner (we usually graded them the day of or at most two days after, with grades coming back by the next lecture). If she's been on you about getting things done faster in the past, then this is especially true.

However, if she asks for something on Monday and gets it Monday evening, she shouldn't complain. She should've asked to get it sooner in the first place.
Click to expand...

actually, ironically, I did have them graded!
All but Saturday's class, as the scan-tron machine was broken. Previously she'd wanted the grades in all at once so she could look at the distribution across classes, right after she asked for the grades i sent everything but the class I had just graded... but this didn't keep her from losing her mind over it.
 
Originally posted by: UncleWai
DixyCrat, HIGH FIVE BRO, I quit my teaching assistant job yesterday as well. I didn't get fired though so I won't get an additional one month pay.
It's a typical power trip these people get and they think you as their teaching assistant is equivalent to a slave to them.
A lot of times these instructors cannot handle the "power" given to them and they think they are working in a corporation and can power trip us.
Click to expand...

It could be.

The Irony is that she's got a all but dissertation on a phd in management!
 
Originally posted by: DixyCrat
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
So, the prof has already asked you several times in the past to grade tests more quickly and you haven't complied?
Click to expand...

yes this.

try doing your work and maybe you won't piss off more people.
Click to expand...

I said Saturday "I"ll have this in on tuesday" she replied "OK".

Sunday afternoon i get this email saying she needs it on Monday.

I say, OK I'll have it Monday evening.

now is the next rational step to get pissed off or to say "I need it in the morning". If it is to get upset about the situation, do explain why "no i need it in the morning" is not the right course of action.

Originally posted by: esun
You probably should've graded the exams sooner (we usually graded them the day of or at most two days after, with grades coming back by the next lecture). If she's been on you about getting things done faster in the past, then this is especially true.

However, if she asks for something on Monday and gets it Monday evening, she shouldn't complain. She should've asked to get it sooner in the first place.
Click to expand...

actually, ironically, I did have them graded!
All but Saturday's class, as the scan-tron machine was broken. Previously she'd wanted the grades in all at once so she could look at the distribution across classes, right after she asked for the grades i sent everything but the class I had just graded... but this didn't keep her from loosing her mind over it.
Click to expand...

I'm not reading anymore after reading this!
EDIT--- You're a teacher?

 
You should definitely keep up the documentation of all of this but you should consider talking to the Prof that's in charge of this class that she referred to. Don't want to take any chances of the faculty getting the wrong impression and having this hurt you in the future should you want to TA again.
 
Grading = teh lose. It is easily the worst part of being a grad student. I was almost late to my own grandmother's funeral to go help one of these spoiled undergrads with their homework outside my numerous office hours. The guy didn't even show up. Then, I get my reviews back at the end of the semester and they all say things like, "TA never available." WTF? One actually wrote, "I hope the TA dies in a fire." After that one, I completely stopped caring, blew off undergrads, and didn't sweat it at all. The rest of my courses went very smoothly. If you raise their expectations by catering to their every whim, they will blame you for everything, including poor grades on exams. If you give them nothing but the bare minimum, that's what they'll expect.
 
Heh, she's insane... like many grad abd students are. Don't sweat it, I doubt she can fire you. four day turn around on the exam is fine IMO. I've made students wait 10 days before (that was pushing it a bit!). Just document your hours and deliverables and be polite and collegial and you'll come out smelling like a rose. She on the other hand will probably look bad to the faculty. Don't burn bridges b/c you're in the same field and if you both end up in academia you'll find its a small world.
 
Originally posted by: DixyCrat
Originally posted by: UncleWai
DixyCrat, HIGH FIVE BRO, I quit my teaching assistant job yesterday as well. I didn't get fired though so I won't get an additional one month pay.
It's a typical power trip these people get and they think you as their teaching assistant is equivalent to a slave to them.
A lot of times these instructors cannot handle the "power" given to them and they think they are working in a corporation and can power trip us.
Click to expand...

It could be.

The Irony is that she's got a all but dissertation on a phd in management!
Click to expand...

She sounds like a future drunken lemur from the Dilbert comics.

 
Ok sounds like you dont want this job in the first place (hell i wouldnt want it) due to the alleged stresses placed upon you by said grad student. Heres what I would do: compose an email to the prof (not the grad student) with copies of all the times the grad student has reneged on a promise or timetable (keep the headers). What you want to establish is a pattern of this person saying one thing then abruptly changing her mind. If you can establish that she has done this in the past and this particular incident is likely the same song and dance the prof might be compelled to take your side and let you slide. Just dont come off aggressive schedule an appointment, state how you feel that you were improperly presented and feel as though you have done all that was asked of you.

If you cannot bring some sort of "proof" you will probably be booted so make an appointment to financial aid the same day. You might get booted anyways so cowboy up and deal with it, life is not fair. Consider it a lesson learned (a cheap one at that considering where you are now).
 
After hearing more of the story, yeah she sounds incompetent (although she may have her own side of the story that we're not hearing). For all those bashing being a TA, it's wonderful if you love teaching (although I'll admit grading is absolutely mind-numbingly awful). If you don't, then don't be a goddamn TA, because you _will_ suck and your students will hate you for it (case in point, CycloWizard).
 
Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude
Heh, she's insane... like many grad abd students are. Don't sweat it, I doubt she can fire you. four day turn around on the exam is fine IMO. I've made students wait 10 days before (that was pushing it a bit!). .
Click to expand...

thats irresponsible as hell. tests should be graded by next day. ideally same-day (if done on scantron). u do remember how anxious it was to be a student, right?
 
Originally posted by: esun
After hearing more of the story, yeah she sounds incompetent (although she may have her own side of the story that we're not hearing). For all those bashing being a TA, it's wonderful if you love teaching (although I'll admit grading is absolutely mind-numbingly awful). If you don't, then don't be a goddamn TA, because you _will_ suck and your students will hate you for it (case in point, CycloWizard).
Click to expand...
My students hated me for being the best TA in the department. It was only after apathy set in that they stopped hating me. Most departments will force you to TA at least 1-2 courses during your tenure as a grad student. It's how they write off your pitiful stipend on their balance sheet before your future advisor starts picking up your tab. The course that I caught all the flak for was the first one I TA'd - it was mandatory and I still went way out of my way to accommodate these kids.
 
Originally posted by: Slappy00
Ok sounds like you dont want this job in the first place (hell i wouldnt want it) due to the alleged stresses placed upon you by said grad student. Heres what I would do: compose an email to the prof (not the grad student) with copies of all the times the grad student has reneged on a promise or timetable (keep the headers). What you want to establish is a pattern of this person saying one thing then abruptly changing her mind. If you can establish that she has done this in the past and this particular incident is likely the same song and dance the prof might be compelled to take your side and let you slide. Just dont come off aggressive schedule an appointment, state how you feel that you were improperly presented and feel as though you have done all that was asked of you.

If you cannot bring some sort of "proof" you will probably be booted so make an appointment to financial aid the same day. You might get booted anyways so cowboy up and deal with it, life is not fair. Consider it a lesson learned (a cheap one at that considering where you are now).
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I'm doing. We'll see how it goes.

I'm a smart guy (760 Gmat) so I'll bounce back no matter where I land.

Have any of you ATOT Tater Tots graduated 2rd grade?
Click to expand...
Sorry buddy if my being dyslexic offends ya. Us retards truly have no place in society but to flip burgers.


although she may have her own side of the story that we're not hearing
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I don't think anyone reacts the way she did without having the perception that the person they are working with is unbearable/incompetent. The only problem is that her perceptions of incompetence are coming from her own erratic behavior.

thats irresponsible as hell. tests should be graded by next day. ideally same-day (if done on scantron). u do remember how anxious it was to be a student, right?
Click to expand...
I do and It has always been our policy to have the grades by the next class period, not an unreasonable time to go over the grades, is it?

the 'four days' she speaks of is Thursday, 7pm, when the class ended. Friday. Saturday and Sunday.

CycloWizard:
The more that you give them the more they think they can take you for all you are worth and the more they can't stand you when you treat them fairly.
 
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