Off topic Prof HATES me...what to do?

[fitzy5]

Help,

I have two profs in this particular class/lecture. Good and Bad. At the beginning of the semester both wrote me up because I "didn't care about skills lab, and was unorganized". Bad went on to point out I needed to "put a cap on my personality". To which Good disagreed and actually commened me at the end of the semester on my professionalism and ability to communicate w/ staff and patients.

Prof Bad, flunks one person every skills lab. no one wants to test w/her. I had to retake a test. and she failed me for the second time (ironically she and Good got into an argument in front of me post test because what Bad asked me and I failed I wasn't supposed to know in the first place_...but I digress

So, when writing me up, Bad asked me, "So what are you taking to treat your ADD?" I was SHOCKED. I admit I am anxious during testing HELLLOOO isn't everyone? But the ADD comment was out of line. In addition to the "put a cap on it" of previous weeks.

Any advise what to do next?? If I ever have her again I KNOW I'm going to fail regardless.

And there's no one I can talk to. When I was written up, my Dean informed me that "all the staff talks" so no matter what I say its' a professor's word against mine.

[Julesmama28]

Wow. That is harsh! What did you say to the add comment? I'm not sure what the correct course of action should be, but if I were you I would reign in my personality and do whatever it takes to just get through and graduate!

[Juniper248]

That is incredibly immature (the ADD comment) and bully-like. Honestly, I don't know what I would do. I would want to go to the Dean of Students, but that COULD backfire...

I'm sorry to hear this has happened to you. Try to never get that teacher again at all costs.

Good luck.

[fitzy5]

Hi with regard to the ADD comment, I said, "Actually Professor I don't HAVE ADD, nor have I ever been diagnosed with ADD". Boy there were a few other things I REALLY wanted to say though!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

talking and acting non-professionally are not the same. Tell the Dean you feel you are being discriminated against and that you feel you are being verbally abused. It is what you FEEL that is important.

[ProudStudent]

It's probably best to not make waves, suck it up and ignore her backhanded comments to the best of your ability. It was however, very unprofessional for "Bad" to make the ADD comment. That would probably make my blood boil. Just remember that you'll get out of there one day and she will still be there instructing students.

[sharpeimom]

how near the end of your program are you? if you're close to finishing up, sometimes it just isn't worth it

to antagonize. as my mom used to say, "choose your battles wisely and be sure you're capable of seeing them

through to the very end."

if you're just beginning your program, you might carry a tiny tape recorder in your pocket. if your voice is on

the tape too, it's legal in most states. check first though. doucment every complaint, compliment, or suggestion.

ask for written copies of everything negative. be sure you email professors good and bad to thank them for compliments

and for a clarification of writeups. that way you'll have a record.

keep hard copies of all careplans, (minus names and any identifying information) papers you write, class notes, test grades,

emails, etc. you'll have a file if you need it later.

your campus has a person whose main job is student/faculty problems. sometimes a student has an axe to grind, but every

complaint is treated as seriously as the next. do you have a student handbook? they usually offer suggestions.

my husband is a professor and in thirty years of teaching he's only had two complaints lodged against him. one where it turned

out the girl was mad because she "only got a b+ and i always get a's" so you know where that gripe ended up.

the second one... a student never turned in any of the required papers and only came to 2 tests. he skipped many classes

with absolutely no explanation at all. none. all attempts to contact him ended rudely. as expected, he failed the course.

after his grades arrived and his dad saw them, dad called the university. the boy's twin brother had died of leukemia

mid-way through the semester. he'd been to upset to share with anyone. the grade was expunged and when he repeated

it in the summer, he got an a.

[ddunnrn]

I would seek legal counsel, because the ADD comment is clearly discriminatory, and by the legal principal of Respondeat superior the school administration is responsible and liable. If that allegation was made in a written document, you may have action for libel or breach of medical confidentiality.

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

Keep records/journals of interactions and email them to yourself so that they are time/date stamped. Unless absolutely unnecessary, insist that communication about important issues regarding your academic performance be handled in writing (like via email) so that there is a permanent record of what is said. Often you will find that what is said to you in email is much less psychologically damaging than what might be said in conversation because the person is acutely aware that someone else may see/read it. Not only that, it creates a paper trail that can be referred to later if the order of events comes into question.

If it's going to be your word against their's, make sure their words are recorded in clean, plain English.