EntriesSo, I have not been in a college classroom for over 20 years. If you have read my previous posts, you know I lost my job in April 2009. Since then, I have heard a couple of times, “Yes, we know you have over 15 years experience and great sales results, but in order to work here you really need your bachelor’s degree.”
Seriously????? Experience vs. Education, that is a debate that can go on for years. I am not going to start or finish that debate, just give a quick opinion. Experience and results trump education hands down in most professions. Of course, since I have been unable to get a job with both experience and great results, I am back in school to finish my Bachelor’s Degree.
I want to let you all know how strange, wonderful, and puzzling my experiences were this week. My first class was Monday night. Now, my previous college experience was at a private, christian college, over 20 years ago. So when my professor cracked out as#ho%e, mother$uc&er, and bull*hi!, I almost fell out of my chair. I am not a prude and have said the words mentioned, but in the classroom? That puzzled me. He also bashed the University, a lot. Aren’t you supposed to support whomever you work for? I guess I am just old fashioned that way.
In my Monday Night class, the diversity among the students was great. Old, young, black, white, it is great to be a part of a group that is not going to give the same answers to questions. It is great to be a part of a group that is going to challenge the professor. That is the wonderful part of my experience this week.
Now, my Tuesday Night class, with the same professor, is totally strange. Most of the 30 odd folks are younger, white, and have not been outside of the State of Alabama. Well, maybe they have gone to Atlanta, and I know Atlanta thinks it is a cosmopolitan city, but you understand, they have not been out of the South nor have they been exposed to many non-christian beliefs. So, when the professor said we will be watching Pulp Fiction, one of the guys sitting next to me said, “I did not see that movie when it came out because of the bu%t rape. I sure as hell am not going to watch it now.”
First of all, the class description and the professor’s syllabus clearly stated we would be watching violent movies, such as Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Second, bu%t rape? Really? Where the heck have you lived for the past 30 years? Yep, folks, this was a 30 year old making the comment. Could he be any more homophobic? Could he be any more closed minded? Hopefully he will drop the class.
Class is a lot like a meeting at work. You have the one person who never shuts up, even when she can see she is aggravating the boss/professor. Boy is there one of those in my class. When she first walked in she announced to everyone that she must sit by an electrical outlet because she must plug in her netbook. The majority of the class alreay had their laptops out, so, we were not impressed by the netbook. Then, whenever the professor would ask a question, she was the first to answer, usually incorrectly. Plus, she was so loud. There is no reason to shout.
Then there are always the couple of folks in a meeting who seem to be having a side meeting that has nothing to do with the main meeting. There were two girls who were more focused on scoping out, “cute boys” than they were about paying attention to the professor. He quickly put an end to that.
And there is always the dingbat who forgets to turn off their cellphone. I have been this dingbat, it stinks. I am now very conscientious about turning off my phone. Yep, the prof threw the person with the ringing cellphone out of the classroom. It was funny. The girl could not believe he was doing it.
So, while college is different in 2010, it is also the same and like most meetings at work. You get inspired, bothered, challenged, and hopefully stay on track. This professor is supposed to be really tough with his grading system. I hope I am up to the challenge.
I will keep you updated!