My experience in higher education has led me to discover the many ways in which social structures and schooling collide. I have friends at many different universities and we all seem to encounter some kind of issue with at least one professor. It is common courtesy for us as students to respect our teachers and/or professors, but what about when they are disrespectful or do not seem to care about our time? I have had a couple of professors come into class and start talking about stuff only to say, "this won't be on the test, so you won't have to worry about it," despite spending the majority of the class period discussing it. Occasionally this can be alright because there are definitely some things that we shouldn't be tested on yet are still important to be aware of. However, I had a professor who did this in most of our class meetings. How can this professor, and others like them, expect us to understand material for the test, when they only teach us about things that will not be on it.
It is also very frustrating when professors come into class unprepared because we are paying thousands in tuition to take these classes and earn these degrees. As a student, I feel as though my money is going to waste when my professors are not prepared for classes or are disrespectful to students. It is the professor's job to teach and them coming to class unprepared is not doing their job. Despite some of these issues, it seems that there nothing us as students can do. The unjust system within higher education that allows for some tenured professors to get away with things, despite numerous student evaluations complaining about them is wrong. Evaluations are conducted for a reason, but sometimes it feels as though no one takes them into account when deciding on things for the following semester. The issue of unprepared professors and ones who waste class time on unnecessary material stretches beyond them not doing their job, it harms student learning and leaves them with gaps upon graduating and entering the workforce, attending graduate school, etc.
One root of this issue is that professors do not need a degree in teaching and do not have to do any workshops, classes, etc. on you to be an effective teacher. I took a sociology class recently and all of these issues related to disrespect, unpreparedness, and teaching were popular discussion points. I have come to realize that I am not the only student who feels this way and that even some instructors tend to agree. School is getting harder each year and the pressure to do well is increasing. The education system has not been changed in over 100 years and it is time for a change. Reform is needed in higher education and below, change that is adapted to technological innovation and societal issues (sustainability, climate change, etc.).
This article only pertains to a select few that have just downright been terrible instructors, rude and disrespectful. I still enjoy learning and have many professors who have taught me so much and are great people. Their teaching skills may not have been the best, but they are still able to relay information in a way that we can actually learn it. Don't get me wrong, I go to an amazing university and I am thankful for the opportunities and experiences I have had. This is just one issue, an issue that I believe many can relate to, in comparison to all of the positives.
