How should you deal with teachers who try to impose their beliefs.?

Question

I had a teacher, teaching assistant actually, who desperately wanted to feel as if he had 'inspired' someone despite not being very profound... He would constantly ask politically charged questions, but in a biased, leading manner, "how many of you actually buy this argument.." When met with anyone who disagreed with him we would insinuate that you must not have done your reading; only when you make reference to the text he will exclaim "well I simply don't agree with that!!" I tried simply not responding to any questions when it is obvious how he feels, but the a$$hole will actually outright ask for those who disagree, only to become hysterical when you do...So how should I handle this?

Answer 1

I've seen both ultra-liberal and ultra-conservative faculty do this. There are a couple of things you can do; a lot of it depends upon whether or not he grades on the degree to which you agree with his viewpoint. If he does not, you can look at it as a learning experience. After all, education means being exposed to a variety of viewpoints. You can hone your own arguments by thinking through why you disagree with the things said by this man (in law school, I took a seminar in which I had to argue a case currently before the Supreme Court, taking the perspective of the side I vehemently disagreed with. Not only did I come to understand the reasoning of that side better, but I developed stronger justifications for my own beliefs).

On the other hand, if this person also grades you on your beliefs, that is unconscionable and he needs to realize that this is not his job (if he is a teaching assistant, he is still learning what his place is). In that case, before you get too many bad grades, go to the professor of record for the course about it (just make sure that the bad grades are for your contrary beliefs, not because you actually did careless work). If he or she doesn't respond, the next step is the department chair. If that person is also unsympathetic, there should be an associate dean for your program who can be approached.

Answer 2

Understand that school, whether HS or college, you will have variety. I had an honors English Prof in College who was a full-on communist. He never said it, but from his history, actions, and his teaching, it was apparent.

Do this: whatever slant the Prof and there T.A.'s are frontin' - just roll with it. I got an A in a class I totally disagreed with from the foundation, lectures, and paper topics, just by going with the flow.

Whatever was in the lectures, and whatever was in section - write about that exclusively. Especially the T.A.'s, whatever they lecture on is what the main point is. Good luck, and remember - it's your grades, not your beliefs that will make your GPA. Suck it up, cuz that's what the job market expects of you also.

Answer 3

Unfortunately there isn't a lot you can do ... go to the head of your school and make a complaint against him... and other than that suck up. I would be angry if I were you too, and would probably be an asshole to them, but trust me, as much as sucking up is awful, at least you will get a good grade. Find ways to not agree with him while not outright disagreeing OR find outside information from reputable scholars to back up your points.

Answer 4

I would do basically what you're doing now; some people will ask questions just to make fun of your answers and that seems to be the case here. There's no point in continually debating with him; you'd be better off arguing with a brick wall. At least a wall won't tease you.

Answer 5

I quite have in elementary words project with prayer in college. it quite is determining who writes the prayer. If quite anybody is that non secular of their lives, then they might want to declare a prayer of grace and thanksgiving over breakfast with their children and not in any respect bypass away the interest to the school district. The Pledge of Allegiance replaced into written for the Boy Scouts mag over a century in the previous. in the Nineteen 1950s, as a reaction to the type of american POWs who had collaborated with their captors in the technique the Korean conflict and with 2 brothers in the cupboard who've been fundamentalist Chirstians (John Foster and Clarence Dulles) the Congress added the words "shrink than God" to the pledge. i'm a retired Naval officer. i do now no longer believe in compelled patriotism or in layering faith on a mundane college device in a mundane republic. you are able to say the Pledge on your position. you are able to pray on your position. it quite is the position the hot newborn is formed.

Answer 6

This is the Higher Education section.... if you mean college professor (you said teaching assistant?) then this sounds normal. Most will try to impose their political views on you (if not directly or indirectly share them with you), however, most will not test you on their opinions. So you're safe.

If you have a legit complaint, file it formally, and in writing, but expressing opinions is free speech sofaras he/she/it doesn't test you on them.

And yea, 95% of professors are liberal or liberal-leaning.

Answer 7

I would say just what you did, that there's no reason to even participate in his discussions because he's not open to being proven wrong. It's hard to argue with someone who has all the answers. . . . .

Answer 8

Guaranteed he's a typical liberal and the teachers who spew their liberal crap by word or by psychic osmosis need to be grabbed by lapels by a tough superintendent and thrown out of the buidling and down the school house steps, then told not to return.

Answer 9

Tell him to fu(k off, and keep his opinions to himself.

Answer 10

create a good arguement and debate him on it...if you are corect he will be proven wrong.