First day of school....wow

[beatledog7]

I have two advanced degrees and am a Political Science professor. What wannbe's teacher did was wrong in lots of ways, as has been discussed.

I certainly do control the debate in my classroom, but only in the sense that I sometimes must make small adjustments to guide it along a balanced path or even call a halt if it threatens to get out of control. As long as nobody gets emotional or personal, I allow spirited debate and encourage differing opinions. So yeah, the teacher has to play the role of moderator.

Personal freedom versus centralized control comes up in many contexts, and my students know they are free to express their reasoned opinions. I find I can keep things rational and calm by enforcing a single rule: before a student expresses his or her view, he or she must summarize or restate to my satisfaction the previously expressed position. If a student can do that, he or she demonstrates clarity of thought and the ability to see both sides of a debate. Both are exremely valuable in real education.

My students are pleased that they get as much latitude as they do to openly disagree with each other and even with the textbook author's position. I sometimes decline to express my own position but instead encourage them to focus on reaching their own rational conclusions. They know early on that regarding any multifaceted topic, agreeing with me is not going to help their grade, and disagreeing with me won't hurt it, as long as they can support what they think with a rational argument.

The classroom is about the students and their opportunity to explore a subject. It is not about the man or woman whose name headlines the syllabus, regardless of his or her position on gun control.

 

[Prince Yamato]

He's an idiot, but he's an idiot who gives you a grade. Just do whatever is necessary to get an A in the class. You'll never win in a fight against a teacher. If you create "trouble" he'll label you a trouble maker, your grades will suffer, and he'll tell other teachers that you are "trouble".

My experience has been that most modern academics live in a bubble-regardless of their political bent. It's not worth fighting these people as a student. Get good grades in his class, suck up to him and his idiot behavior, make him feel valued. Compliment something good he says that you agree with, or give an indirect compliment, "I really enjoyed the way you put forth your argument in class"... because you highlight your dumbhattery so well when you open your mouth.

The change you can make is when you graduate, make money, and vote.

You only have a year to deal with this fool, make the best of it.

 

[larryh1108]

In our society, there are many fervent anti-gun people. They can be a peer, a boss or a teacher. You have a strong opinion in the opposite direction but in order to debate on your own behalf, you need to see and understand what the other is saying. Once you see the basis of their argument you can then build your own argument and reasons for your stance. When faced with someone like this and it's a no-win situation then it's best to learn as much as you can about how they think so in the future you have your "guns loaded" when it occurs again, and it will. Like others have said, pick your battles. As Professor Beatledog also said, you need to know where they are coming from to be able to defeat them on their ground.

 

[TonyDedo]

they yell "THEY'RE COMIN FOR OUR GUNS!!" and the donations pour in

He's not entirely wrong in this regard. Have you actually read some of that fundraising mail that I KNOW all of you guys get? Hyperbole is one thing, but some of these letters are downright ridiculous. One of the many bones I have to pick with the NRA...

Now it seems as though your professor is equally ridiculous, but that's the role of the extremists.