Why do I have to put up with this crap? (And students in general)

[Polish3d]

My teacher in one of my classes has stated as a fact that we went to war for oil and Israel, and to benefit George Bush. He endorses communism rails against capitalism. He spends a good 25% of the class bashing the policies of the United States.


What class is this?

An Overview of Philosophy class.

We should be spending more time on Aristotle and Descartes

 

[Steeplerot]

ummm, maybe because they don't buy foxnews tripe and is trying to undo some of the damage?

Does she straight up say communism? Or just lefty stuff?

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
ummm, maybe because they don't buy foxnews tripe and is trying to undo some of the damage?

Does she straight up say communism? Or just lefty stuff?

So he can Bush Bash on his own time. As a student, I'd be pissed too.

 

[Polish3d]

No, the teacher specifically states that communism is a superior to and preferable to capitalism.

And it is interesting to see you excuse this behavior with an expected and yet evermore tiresome remark about Fox news. I would find it just as inappropriate if my teacher were saying that John Kerry and the Democrats were liars, and that facism is better than capitalism. (In that context it sounds a little more serious doesn't it?)


I may complain, but obviously it will have to wait until the class ends as grading is entirely subjective based upon written work.

 

[sandorski]

shens

 

[Steeplerot]

Doesen't sound appropriate for class subject matter, I would pull her aside and ask her what the deal is then and when the philosophy actually starts.

I know a lot of people are annoyed with bush nowdays but I myself usually do not mix politics w/ work. (except for my bush/chimp wallpaper on my pc, but I usually have an app up so it doesent matter)

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: sandorski
shens

I'm glad you said so. It is an online hybrid class (through my school still but mainly online), and everything is in writing. My semester ends in a little over a month and I will post some of what was written.



I have had this kind of thing happen before and for teachers like this I no longer confront them. I've never had a teacher be quite so political, but two semesters ago I got into an argument with a teacher and thene eventually withdrew from the class and petioned and recieved a refund and a removal of the "W" grade from my record after submitting evidence showing blatantly purposeful unfair treatement. It isn't worth the fight in this case, I just do my work and refrain from responding to the political comments.

 

[Steeplerot]

If your paying for a class I would expect the subject matter.

Political science would maybe be more appropriate for that stuff.

It's a sign of the times though bush has people hopping mad.

I can't take a subway or grab a 2 liter of dew without someone ranting about bushco.

Try feeling the same way and getting stuck talking about it all the time, oh well this last few generations of kids knew crap about politics, good to see bush at least is getting people aware regardless that it is negative attention for the government.

Maybe the next few presidents will actually have to earn their votes instead of herding mindless sheep with fear or catchphrases.

*shrug*

 

[kogase]

Okay.

 

[Proletariat]

Originally posted by: Frackal

Originally posted by: sandorski
shens

I'm glad you said so. It is an online hybrid class (through my school still but mainly online), and everything is in writing. My semester ends in a little over a month and I will post some of what was written.



I have had this kind of thing happen before and for teachers like this I no longer confront them. I've never had a teacher be quite so political, but two semesters ago I got into an argument with a teacher and thene eventually withdrew from the class and petioned and recieved a refund and a removal of the "W" grade from my record after submitting evidence showing blatantly purposeful unfair treatement. It isn't worth the fight in this case, I just do my work and refrain from responding to the political comments.

Are you sure you are not exaggerating? A communist supporting professor in the USA? The closest I know is Chomsky and even he does not support Communism, he just doesn't agree with US global policy.

 

[Steeplerot]

Yeah thats why I asked, I lot of people in here seem to confuse anything but the right-wing agenda communist for some reason I still do not understand.

 

[Kibbo86]

I wouldn't take anything a Phil prof says in an intro class too seriously.

Dollars to doghnuts he's overstating things ironically in order to get you to think. Good phil profs don't teach, they instigate.

Remember, they are all students of Socrates. Who was a patronizing, lying, supercilious bastard.

This could be a method of pointing out the fact that Marxism's basic arguments are almost impossible to refute. It doesn't mean he'd actually rather have Stalin as pres to Roosevelt. Marx's use of the dielectic, matched with his view of personal alienation, and thus leading to class conflict are very difficult to refute. You have to get seriously Metaphysical to tangle with that stuff, and even then you'll often end in a draw.

He's probably a leftie, and enjoys being paid to bash Bush a bit, but there's usually more to Phil profs than meets the eye. At least, in my experience.

Edit:

For example, I once had a phil prof spend 30 mins bitching about the ending of "The Panic Room," before I realized he was using his hatred of the ending of a mediocre movie to illustrate Ronald Dworkin's constructivist theories of jurisprudence.

 

[Polish3d]

Unfortunately Kibbo86 the motivation is not nearly so clever, this teacher enjoys being paid to discuss things, we do not delve deeply into any philosophy and spend the majority of the time "yacking."

Indeed, most of my teachers have been better. This teacher is not a doctor, and most teachers with a doctorate I've had have been fantastic.

He does not endorse USSR style communism, but pure Karl Marx style communism. He isn't authoritarian, (well no more than Robespierre was initially at least) but he is misusing his position.

I should add I am retaking this class to get the original B I recieved when I was less focused on a scholarship (2 years ago) upgraded to an A, and the first time I took it I had a fantastic teacher, a doctor, and the curriculum was totally different.

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: Proletariat

Originally posted by: Frackal

Originally posted by: sandorski
shens

I'm glad you said so. It is an online hybrid class (through my school still but mainly online), and everything is in writing. My semester ends in a little over a month and I will post some of what was written.



I have had this kind of thing happen before and for teachers like this I no longer confront them. I've never had a teacher be quite so political, but two semesters ago I got into an argument with a teacher and thene eventually withdrew from the class and petioned and recieved a refund and a removal of the "W" grade from my record after submitting evidence showing blatantly purposeful unfair treatement. It isn't worth the fight in this case, I just do my work and refrain from responding to the political comments.

Are you sure you are not exaggerating? A communist supporting professor in the USA? The closest I know is Chomsky and even he does not support Communism, he just doesn't agree with US global policy.

He doesn't endorse the USSR, but specifically endorses Karl Marx's original vision as being superior to capitalism.

 

[Steeplerot]

Then she is a marxist, not a communist, when you speak of communism people think of the totalitarian authoritarian dictatorship where dictator is the state and the state controls all.

Being a philosophy major she is a dreamer and marxism in its purest form is not "communism" is is more of a form of pure anarchy from what was once a uncorrupted communist state with the state owning nothing and people sharing everything.

C'mon man this is middle school stuff. (or at least when I went to school)

You have nothing to fear from such a dreamer, there will never be a marxist society as you would need generations of deprogramming long ingrained class ideals, old superstitions and prejudices in society.

Philosophically yes, it would be a perfect utopia, in reality a classless society is only a dream as corrupted as we are.

But hey, more power to the dreamers, for they are the future sooner or later in a lot of cases.

 

[nageov3t]

the best professor I had in college was a die hard Marxist.

but if you're professor refuses to encourage opposing viewpoints, even with well-reasoned arguments, it sounds like a crappy professor/school.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: Frackal
Unfortunately Kibbo86 the motivation is not nearly so clever, this teacher enjoys being paid to discuss things, we do not delve deeply into any philosophy and spend the majority of the time "yacking."

Indeed, most of my teachers have been better. This teacher is not a doctor, and most teachers with a doctorate I've had have been fantastic.

He does not endorse USSR style communism, but pure Karl Marx style communism. He isn't authoritarian, (well no more than Robespierre was initially at least) but he is misusing his position.

I should add I am retaking this class to get the original B I recieved when I was less focused on a scholarship (2 years ago) upgraded to an A, and the first time I took it I had a fantastic teacher, a doctor, and the curriculum was totally different.

Slightly offtopic...but your university/college allows you to retake a B for a higher grade? Wow....

 

[Polish3d]

Yeah.. only a couple times though

 

[Pabster]

Typical college professors...

College professors are one of the largest groups of liberals out there.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
Then she is a marxist, not a communist, when you speak of communism people think of the totalitarian authoritarian dictatorship where dictator is the state and the state controls all.

Then perhaps she ought to consider teaching in another country.

Amazing these people see fit to rail against the very system that has allowed them to be successful.

 

[smack Down]

A Philosophy class full of BS you don't say?

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Typical college professors...

College professors are one of the largest groups of liberals out there.

Couldn't succeed in the real world and became an academic elitist with an axe to grind and a disdain for the "evil rich who screwed me over" :roll:. Yup, sounds like a liberal to me!

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: Pabster
Typical college professors...

College professors are one of the largest groups of liberals out there.

Couldn't succeed in the real world and became an academic elitist with an axe to grind and a disdain for the "evil rich who screwed me over" :roll:. Yup, sounds like a liberal to me!

If it isn't P&N's two favorite trolls - good morning!

I don't believe the OP was complaining about typical college professors, or even a professor at all; where I come from, if you don't have a doctorate, you aren't a full professor.

As for the OP, it sounds like you have a legitimate complaint; Kibbo is right about philosophy professors, but if your report of the professor's statements is accurate, you likely have a legitimate beef.

I'm finishing up my degree right now, and have a class with a professor who is a self-described social democrat (think, ideally, if non-corrupt trade unions ran the world, and you would have an idea what he supports). It is an economics class though, so it's what I signed up for, and it's fun to watch the really die-hard neo-liberal kids (free-market capitalists going to school full time on Daddy's money!) squirm over theoretically and empirically accurate models of income distribution and the like. But if this was being taught in place of the standard 'third year microeconomics' course, I would have serious complaints about the content.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Frackal
My teacher in one of my classes has stated as a fact that we went to war for oil and Israel, and to benefit George Bush. He endorses communism rails against capitalism. He spends a good 25% of the class bashing the policies of the United States.


What class is this?

An Overview of Philosophy class.

We should be spending more time on Aristotle and Descartes

welcome to the Real World (TM). Unless you live in lala land, you'll always find idiots that are your superiors. It's kinda pointless to bitch about that stuff, because it doesn't just happen in academia. Sometimes you just gotta deal with it.

 

[Strk]

I love hearing about the "typical college professor." Does anyone even bother to check on a professor they are going to take anymore?