2005-05-05

This shit actually happened to me.

I had a professor who bragged about having a low pass rate for his courses.

I filed a complaint against this professor who was creating a toxic learning environment by assuming every student was cheating and taking extreme measures on every exam to counter it. The material was itself already difficult enough without making it more difficult unnecessarily.

People weren't washing out just because the material was hard, they were washing out because the material was hard and there was a professor looking over your shoulder randomly during the exams.

During classes the forced participation caused anxiety even for a military veteran like myself. Not only were your answers were evaluated in front of the entire class, the professor assessed your character as a human being as well.

The homework given in class ultimately had 2 grades: As a homework grade and as a Study Guide grade. The homework went into a 3 ring binder that also contained incomplete study material that we had to fill out ourself as well as notes from class. In theory this is a great learning tool, in practice it's pure hell and source of incredible anxiety as the massive 3 ring binder that ended up being evaluated as a major part of your grade at the end of the semester caused fear and anxiety to care for and maintain for the 3 months of the class.

I made it through their class, but most did not. They were plenty bright, but they just couldn't handle his abrasive and anxiety inducing teaching methods. After anonymously filing the complaint the administration decided to force the professor into retirement.

I was in my 2nd semester during lab performing an experiment when this professor snuck up behind me and told me he was retiring this semester in an angry and accusatory tone.

I just froze in place for a moment, nearly dropping my lab equipment. Then I just set it down and turned to him and congratulated him for "being in the home stretch"

He just smiled and said "Almost there" and walked away...

As soon as he left I almost fainted, fuck that was close.