It has been 2 years since I posted here. Wow, does time ever fly! Anyway, since I last posted, the idiot who was harassing me (the visiting professor who hates women) has since been dismissed. That happened about a year ago and, although things got much better, it still isn't great at my program.
In terms of being a graduate TA, once I completed my master's degree last summer, I was able to start teaching my own classes in the fall. What a year it's been in terms of being solely responsible for a class. I like it much better than being someone else's TA but the students have a way of making me crazy. Especially because I teach at a university where a fair proportion of the undergraduate population are functionally illiterate. It becomes of problem for them when they realize that in order to earn an A in my class, you have to be operating at a normal college level of proficiency.
I can't say that this hasn't created some issues for me with the department chair. She seems to think that it's best to let them pass even if they don't belong in college jsut to avoid hearing them whine and complain. I refuse and it works out well because the department chair won't tell me that I have to pass them. Therefore, I do not.
All of this has made me realize that there is no way in hell I'm going into an academic job if I can help it. I'm working toward trying to use my doctorate in an applied field. Even if it means I have to work a 9-5 job. The politics and nonsense that accompany a career in academia do not appeal to me at all.
I will update again soon with stories of my foolish students. The tales and woes are endless.
0 comments:
Post a Comment