Scolded by the teacher!

[chacha82]

I'm 30 and taking a prereq at the local community college. Yesterday was the second day of class and I had worked ahead in the computer module because we have company this weekend.

My teacher, in front of the whole class, basically scolded me for working ahead! I apologized and said I would not work further, but she said I didn't listen on the first day of class when she said "Don't work ahead." Now, we did not get our syllabus the first day and she did tell us a lot of things, but I don't remember her saying "Don't work ahead."

There's only a few of us in the class so I was pretty embarassed but decided to just not do anymore homework ahead of time. Then she said she didn't like it when students work ahead bc then they don't come to class. But I haven't missed any class!

Finally, a few minutes later, I was copying what she was doing on the board in my notes. Then she said "Why aren't you watching me? You think you're so smart, because you already did this?" I was copying down what she was doing on the board!

I was almost in tears. I'm 30 years old! THEN she says, "I'm just messing with you!" THEN she said at the end of class we could work ahead over the weekend if we wanted to!

I feel totally embarassed, confused, and miserable about the rest of this class! I'm already stressed about getting my prereqs done in time (I got into nursing school but it is contingent on finishing this class over the summer).

[babyNP., APRN]

I think you just need to pity her, that she gets pleasure out of treating her students like this. You know you're better than how's she treating you. Nursing school has many hoops to jump through. Bite the bullet, get through it. As a nurse with nearly 5 years experience now, I take great pleasure in doing things "my way." Of course, I'm following hospital policies but I no longer have instructors breathing down my back telling me to do things the way they want them, even though it doesn't really matter. I had one instructor who told me that I wasn't allowed to say, "alright?" or "okay?" to my patients.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I had a professor ask the entire class if we needed to "take a break" because I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of his lecture. He wasn't trying to be nice, he was clearly annoyed. I just turned around and said "I don't know about everyone else, but I do" and kept walking. I am all about respect, but we pay money to go to college, and some professors treat it like its highschool. I don't pay any mind to it anymore. Some prof. are great, some are awful. At the end of the class I made sure to tell him I didn't mean to disrupt his class but I have a sinus infection and didn't think the whole class wanted to hear me blow my nose..... Never happened again, lol. *shrugs* Next time something like that happens my advise is to address it with the prof. at the end of class, with respect. In this situation something like "I appologize for working ahead, I must not have heard that part feel free to pull me aside at the end of classes to let me know if i've done something wrong" sort of lets him/her know that you didn't appreciate being called out in front of everyone.

Also, if you get a survey about the teacher be sure to mention it. Most of the time they have more weight than we realize.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

I think you should toughen up a bit and be a bit more perceptive as to when a professor is just messing with you. We live in a country that now anyways, that education seems to be too "make everybody feel good." That's not what the real world is like, and my nursing friends, when I had a complaint about a professor all said, "wait until you meet a cranky doctor." I understand you're stressed about finishing your pre reqs, I know how that feels, when 2013 is over, I will have taken 13 classes, 42 credits to finish in time for this application period of a BSN program.

In the past, I had been known to try to make light of things in lecture, to try to liven up the atmosphere. Sometimes lectures can be so uptight, and the vibe from the crowd is so damn serious (because the students are so stressed). At times it came across as condescending and sarcastic in my evaluations. I was spoken to about it. Not everyone gets my approach and humor, especially since I teach in an incredibly diverse area.

I agree that students do need to toughen up a bit. the world is full of ugly, nasty people who do not give a hoot about your feelings. Having said that, I'd never speak to a student like the OPs professor did, especially in front of a crowd. It's just plain wrong, and she was clearly trying to assert her authority.

I also agree that "just kidding" does not mean that at all.

Make sure you point this out in your evaluation of her. If this behavior is the norm for her, others will point it out as well.

[rubato, ASN, RN]

I just finished my first year of nursing school. I have a very good sense of humor and can put up with a lot, but so far, I've had one professor talk to me about being inappropriate, and another bring me to tears twice. This would be fine, except that I'm 43 years old and very sure of myself. I was appalled that they were treating me like a child and angry about it. But, I just blew it off and pushed forward. I'm not here for them to like me and I just need to get through the next year. My BSN bridge is online, so I hopefully won't be putting up with the power trips of professors for much longer.

I don't think she did anything worth reporting, but it definitely wasn't nice. Just work on getting through the class. Good luck!

[dt70]

You working ahead was probably the catalyst for her to act that way later on.

Her later behavior may have been out of character. Give her the benefit of the doubt and talk to her in private

about how you felt before speaking to anyone else. She may apologize, which may

de-escelate your tension to a more comfortable level.

Yes, being upset with her is justified, but not the best course of action without further feedback.

Good luck.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

It doesn't matter whether she was having a bad day, making a bad joke, being a jerk, or just has a quirky personality that you'll all get used to. It really doesn't, and I can't believe we all sent this much time on it already. Why would you keep masticating that cud? Spit it out and let it go. Life is too short to take fools seriously. Get on with it.

[cyndi.st]

Personally I think she was wrong.

Cindy

[ivetaj]

Move on from it ....hopefully this will be your last bad experience with teacher ... Be positive because as you enter the nursing school you will be under so much stress you never been before ....

[Graduation2016]

What a complex she must have! She obviously needs to make other people small so she can feel big!

[Sneaky Chicken]

Look how much energy you have already spent on this awful day. I think it's time to walk away from the hurt that she caused you because it's still causing you pain. The more energy you give it the more pain you will have. YOU know that you are a good student. You know that you didn't do anything wrong. You need to believe in yourself. Be positive, remember why you are at nursing school in the first place and keep your eye on the prize, which is your degree. This will be a small blip in your career path. Don't give it more attention that it deserves.