Instructor is NOT teaching... what to do?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I am soooo frustrated and need some advice.

The regular instructor for Chemistry at the CC where I am doing my pre-reqs is out on maternity leave. They found a replacement to cover from the local State University..... he is not a teacher... he is a lab assistant! We did not know this until after we were into the class.

He does not go by the text we have to study from. So we are all over the place in the text and he gives us tests from the State Ap class. Which are similar, but not worded like what we have been practicing with and frequently included concepts that we have not yet covered. Every test he find a problem or 2 that even he cannot do!

So we have basically been teaching ourselves thru our textbooks and online sites. Now he is teaching us stuff that "is not in the textbooks" but we should know it. He is a horrible lecturer and we are all extremely frsutrated. The last info that was not in the textbook, I took to my chemistry tutor (from my CC) and she had NO IDEA what he was talking about! Now he is too busy to correct our homewoek so he just checks off if we do it or not. Well.... if I do it wrong how will I know????????

We have lost over half the class already, and a large number who remain will probably not pass. Many students have complained to the Dean about this, but they are stuck with him and the only solution is to drop and take the F. I just want to pass!! Currently I have a B.... but I feel it will slip away with his crazy teaching.

We have a test today and I am worried that I will not pass. Basically because we are not even sure what we are being tested on today!!

Okay...... I am open for suggestions...... I am so anxious about this darned class that I do "chemistry" all night in my sleep.... every night! :o

help!!! :uhoh21:

Thanks so much,

MaryRose

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Write a formal letter of protest and have everyone else in your class do so also. I would also question the competency and education of this instructor. You have a right to a solid chemistry understanding and it doesn't sound like you are getting it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Okay..... today's saga....

Went to class... he was in a bitter mood. He gave us a choice to have our 3rd LECTURE exam on Tuesday then go home right after.... or Thursday and have lecture afterwards. We askedhim what happened to Lab?? We just don't have one. So we asked if we could have a review for the Lecture exam... NOPE... he won't give us any reviews. He was showing an extreme attitude and being a real jerk.

Then he passed out the quiz... not all of the needed info was listed (The periodic table for one). When we politely asked him about this he gave a smart A** comment like "you Need this?".... then put it on the board.

Then after a few minutes he erased it!! For no reason.... he didn't put anything else there, just erased the needed info. Oh did, I mention we needed the info for the whole quiz??!! I was so ticked... I just said "I'm done.... and I'm totally disappointed with this" and handed my paper in. After a few minutes he said "well you can look in your book".... and handed me back my paper.

I took the paper back and tried to finish it, however I could not concentrate and frankly at that point, I just didn't give a rats behind anymore. So a big fat zero for me...... yippee.

After the quiz, I gathered my stuff up and walked out. I can learn just as well at home at this point. He was even more ticked off at that, but too darned bad.

I just want to find a way to get thru this darned class. I'm beyond trying to get a B or anything... I just want to get thru it.

There is only about 3 weeks left after break..... so we are going to take this lovely Spring Break and study our butts off so we can pass this class. It is soooooo frustrating. I was was really looking forward to this class.... doing experiments and stuff. Instead it's just 3 hours of a tension filled classroom. Oh and we've only done 2 little experiments.... whoooopeeee.

Shouldn't I be getting free Xanax with this????????

Thanks for letting me vent....

Hugs,

MaryRose

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in AGNP.

I would definately scheduled a meeting or write a letter to the Chair of the Chemistry Department or someone on campus that has authority in the Chem Department. Did your prior teacher hand out a syllabus or course outline? Here at Michigan State the syllabus is a binding contract so even if there is a new teacher in the middle of the semester, the lecture/lab schedule and expectations must be followed and the grading scale can not be changed. He has an obligation to teach the material that was going to be covered by the other teacher and by not following the book he is obviously just doing things willy-nilly.

I hope that things can get worked out, I know how frustrating it is too have a teacher who seems to be just pulling things out of their butts and hoping no one complains.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sounds alot like my nursing classes, atleast you'll be used to it when you get there. Good luck and just do your best.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Okay..... today's saga....

Went to class... he was in a bitter mood. He gave us a choice to have our 3rd LECTURE exam on Tuesday then go home right after.... or Thursday and have lecture afterwards. We askedhim what happened to Lab?? We just don't have one. So we asked if we could have a review for the Lecture exam... NOPE... he won't give us any reviews. He was showing an extreme attitude and being a real jerk.

Then he passed out the quiz... not all of the needed info was listed (The periodic table for one). When we politely asked him about this he gave a smart A** comment like "you Need this?".... then put it on the board.

Then after a few minutes he erased it!! For no reason.... he didn't put anything else there, just erased the needed info. Oh did, I mention we needed the info for the whole quiz??!! I was so ticked... I just said "I'm done.... and I'm totally disappointed with this" and handed my paper in. After a few minutes he said "well you can look in your book".... and handed me back my paper.

I took the paper back and tried to finish it, however I could not concentrate and frankly at that point, I just didn't give a rats behind anymore. So a big fat zero for me...... yippee.

After the quiz, I gathered my stuff up and walked out. I can learn just as well at home at this point. He was even more ticked off at that, but too darned bad.

I just want to find a way to get thru this darned class. I'm beyond trying to get a B or anything... I just want to get thru it.

There is only about 3 weeks left after break..... so we are going to take this lovely Spring Break and study our butts off so we can pass this class. It is soooooo frustrating. I was was really looking forward to this class.... doing experiments and stuff. Instead it's just 3 hours of a tension filled classroom. Oh and we've only done 2 little experiments.... whoooopeeee.

Shouldn't I be getting free Xanax with this????????

Thanks for letting me vent....

Hugs,

MaryRose

I'm appalled to hear how you are your class are being "taught"....What is this man's problem!?! I agree with the person who said you need to take this higher up....Go to the Dean! You pay your tuition; you deserve to be taught to the best of that professor's capabilities. If he has none, he has no business teaching. Sounds like you have one with real issues.

Have you considered going to his office to talk to him about this? You have every right to vent.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Don't let this guy get away with this awful job of teaching you chemistry. You are paying for an education and you aren't getting what you're paying for. Get into the deans office in the morning. There is no reason to put up with this nonsense. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I personally would make some quiet inquiries and tell the department head what is going on. See what they have to say, and if they recommend you going to the dean, or whatever.

But I'd still try to make it through the course as best as I could. I would hate to have to take chemistry all over again with just three weeks to go in the semester.

I had a teacher like that once. Tried to teach us all kinds of stuff like there was a cure for Down's syndrome and outrageous stuff like that. He also tried to sell us stuff. Highly unethical. The class was completely worthless.

Nevertheless, I wanted to get the course done and didn't complain until it was over and grades were in. He was a tenured professor and I was worried word would get back to him. But it doesn't sound like it's the same situation with this guy.

:smokin:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment