seiberwing | (no subject)

Just...screw my creative writing teacher.

I made a teensy bit of criticism of one person's imagery piece, and he tells me that we're just supposed to offer our 'observations'.

"But I was just offering my observations that there was a contradiction there. The car had 'gone through hell and back' in one paragraph and 'had just a few dents' in another. There's no need to get on my case about that."

"We'll have a big talk after class."

Gah. He's a superior git, is what he is. He said that he'd be the only one giving crit for a long while (not that he seems to even be paying attention to what we do) because we 'are trying to foster a trusting enviroment' and 'we do not know enough about writing yet'. One girl in the class has written a damn novel, I think we know what we're doing.

And then, just when I think I'm over it, I come home to this (name removed to protect the innocent):

--I just wanted to get back to you one more time after our conversation this afternoon. After our talk, I went to the chair of Literature and Language and spoke to her about our exhange. She gave me her full support with this.

There is absolutely no room in this class for your rude remarks such as "There's no need to jump on my case about it" Or the last thing you said as you walked out the door which was, "When you talk to me, talk to me like a human being."

These are rude and immature remarks and there's absolutely no room in my class for this. Your attitude and your rude remarks interrupt and take energy away from the class. I don't have time for them.

Perhaps I didn't make it clear enough to you that I wanted exclusively positive comments from class members on each other's work. I will be willing to give you another chance as far as that's concerned. However, it is totally unacceptable for you to be saying that I talk down to you when I address you as I would any other student.

I am the teacher and as the teacher I set the rules and I expect them to be followed with respect and willingness. That's not to say I don't want student participation and response. The class is full of wonderful and thoughtful response, and I've seen that you are quite capable of that kind of response yourself.

So if you show up in my classroom next Wednesday, I expect you to be polite, thoughtful and attentive. To not respond to any critique I may have of your response to someone's work. I expect you to refrain from any "comebacks" or rude replies. If you are unable to meet those conditions, unable to practice such restraint, then I think, and the chair of the department said this as well, that it would be a very good idea for you to drop the class.

If you would just let me know that you received this.

Otherwise, I need no other response. If you show up in class, then I'll know you accept my conditions.

Bastard. I'm waiting a bit to respond, so I can calm down and not start crying again. How are we supposed to learn this way?

Edit: Well, I'm talking to my writer mom on the subject, to whom I sent a copy of this post. And she being the person who raised me, said: Seiber, he's got a point. He's the teacher and you were the one being an idiot here for talking back to him and being so rude. I'm wondering if I should try and go back so as not to get on anyone's bad side and still get creative writing class. It'll involve a lot of ass-kissing, but...

Son of Edit: I'm putting the issue on hold until tomorrow when I'm a little calmer. Now I honestly don't know what to do.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The fuck.

I haven't been talked to like this by a teacher since I was *eleven*. This person obviously has some kind of god complex and likes smacking you down because he's in charge. He's an idiot, and the chair is an idiot for supporting him. The fact that he does not allow the other students to give what you basically described as very mild constructive criticism to their peers is beyond fucking stupid.

My mother, who's a college professor and teaches scriptwriting, was gobsmacked when I described your teacher's behaviour. She says that you can't just build an environment of positive fluffies in a creative writing class, there *has* to be constructive crit from the students because they are in many ways more each other's audience than the teacher. She also was not impressed with the idea of your teacher not paying enough attention when you guys were presenting your writing.

I suggest you get the heck out of his class if you humanly can, write a long and pointed letter to your dean/student advisor/whoever will listen that he is a weak teacher who is threatened easily by a student who stands up for herself and politely gives her independent opinion.

I'm rather on the fence about the issue now that I've talked with my mom. *points to edit* The thing is, I was the one who started it and they are his rules.

I honestly don't know what to do.

It's your choice, obviously. And maybe you weren't being as polite as you could have been - I wasn't there. But the most germane issue facing you right now isn't who was more right, it's can you justify spending your time and tuition on that class where you know that's how you'll be treated? Not to mention how worthwhile the class might be with no concrit.

It's certainly giving me prompts to write things, which is good, and I wouldn't have any class there anyway so time's not an issue, and it's too late to return the book...